Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — The Royal Commission for Riyadh began work on the “Green Riyadh” project, one of the grand Riyadh ventures.

The project aims to plant 7.5 million trees within a period of the coming 10 years. It is expected to raise the green areas out of the total developed area of the capital city from 1.5 percent to 9.1 percent by 2030, and the per capita area of green from 1.7 square meters to nine square meters.

The works of the first phase of the “Green Riyadh” project, started before Ramadan, and these include afforestation of the main arteries of the capital city, with a length of 180 square kilometers. Under this phase, a total of 50,000 trees and 100,000 shrubs will be planted along King Salman Road, King Khalid Road, King Fahd Road, Airport Road, Makkah Road, the Northern Ring Road, and the Eastern Ring Road.

This phase also includes afforestation of five neighborhoods picked from all parts of Riyadh, including Al-Naseem in the east, Al-Ghadir, Alisha, Al-Nakheel, and the central district of Al-Arija. Water networks for irrigation will also be implemented during this phase. Up to 3,000 cubic meters of treated water will be used on a daily basis.

With the completion of its three phases, the “Green Riyadh” project would increase the percentage of green areas from 1.5 to 9, equivalent to 541 square kilometers. It will facilitate the re-use of treated water from raw sewage treatment facilities, which are currently wasted in the valleys. This would contribute to raising the rate of water exploitation for irrigation in the city from the current 90,000 cubic meters to more than one million cubic meters per day with setting up of new networks.

It is noteworthy that Riyadh will go absolutely green over the coming years and thus making the Saudi capital city among the top 100 cities of the world. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman had launched last year “Green Riyadh” project as a part of four grand projects chaired by Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman. The Green Riyadh project will contribute to increasing the per capita share of green space, and raise total green spaces through planting trees around all city facilities as well as in all its governorates.

The project includes planting 7.5 million trees across the capital in gardens and parks, mosques, schools, academic, healthcare and public facilities in addition to King Khaled International Airport and most of the roads, streets, car parking spaces, and valleys. Special species of plants and trees will be used to expand as a shade cover. The initiative will lead to improved air quality and reduced temperatures in the city, which will give Riyadh residents a healthy environment.