UNEP director visits Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ghat National Park, reviews its rehabilitation
RIYADH: National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification CEO Khaled bin Abdullah Al-Abdul Qadir received on Wednesday executive director of the UN Environment Programme Inger Andersen and her accompanying delegation during their visit to Al-Ghat National Park.
Andersen was briefed on the rehabilitation and development stages of the park’s vegetation cover, field studies, natural growths in parks, methods used in tree planting and rain harvesting, and the prominent types of trees found at the park’s nursery.
Andersen praised what she saw during the visit to Al-Ghat National Park, commending the efforts by the Kingdom in environment conservation as well as the national and international initiatives it has launched — the Saudi Green Initiative, the Middle East Green Initiative and the G20’s global initiative aimed at reducing land degradation and enhancing conservation of terrestrial habitats to face challenges, achieve sustainability and preserve existing achievements.
Abdul Qadir said that the Kingdom was providing a model in the development of vegetation cover while leading regional efforts to protect the environment and natural habitats, and to expand green spaces.
The center is seeking to develop, protect and monitor vegetation regions, and rehabilitate degraded ones. This includes managing and investing in grazing lands, forests and national parks, along with preserving natural resources and biodiversity.
Andersen was in Riyadh to discuss the efforts being made to host the 2024 World Environment Day, which is UNEP’s main event to raise global awareness to protect the environment.
The day, celebrated since 1973, has become a vital platform to promote progress made toward the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, as more than 150 states from around the world take part in the annual celebration.
That the Kingdom has chosen to host it confirms its leading role in exerting efforts and launching initiatives to protect the environment.
This year’s celebrations will focus on land rehabilitation and efforts to mitigate the impact of drought.
