Saudi Arabia restores 1 million hectares of land, plants more than 159 million trees under green initiative/Representative Image

Saudi Arabia has achieved a major environmental feat by converting barren land into green cover on a large scale. This progress reflects a long-term national effort to restore ecosystems, expand vegetation, and combat desertification.Saudi Arabia has restored one million hectares of degraded land and planted more than 159 million trees, a significant milestone under the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) launched in 2021 by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The initiative aims to plant 10 billion trees, which is equivalent to rehabilitating 40 million hectares across the state.Abdulrahman Alfadli, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, said the achievement reflects the leadership’s commitment to environmental sustainability under Saudi Vision 2030. He said restoration efforts started with just 18,000 hectares, then expanded to 250,000 hectares by 2024, before reaching the one million hectare mark in early 2026.Highlighting the initiative’s role in conserving biodiversity and native flora, he said progress has been driven by coordination between government entities, the private sector and the community. He also pointed to the importance of royal reserves and modern water harvesting techniques in sustaining these efforts. “This success is a symbol of a unified national effort,” Alfadale said. He said this work is strengthening wildlife conservation and ecosystem resilience.Current progress sets the stage for the next target of 25 lakh hectares by 2030, supported by projects such as dam water utilization and rain harvesting, which is expected to support long-term expansion of green cover.Deputy Minister Eng. Mansour Almushtaiti described the milestone as a “qualitative leap” towards the state’s ambitious goals. He said this is in line with SGI’s goal of planting 10 billion trees and rehabilitating 40 million hectares, while also highlighting special programs such as the National Cloud Seeding Programme, which has boosted rainfall and contributed to a 50 percent reduction in dust storms in 2025 compared to the previous year.This achievement has also received international recognition. Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts, saying it reflected a unified approach and clear political will. “This achievement proves that land restoration is possible even in the most challenging environments,” he said.He also said the Kingdom’s efforts contribute to strengthening international cooperation on land restoration through the Middle East Green Initiative and its hosting of UNCCD’s COP16.