RIYADH — King Salman Royal Natural Reserve (KSRNR) has started planting 500,000 tree seedlings in the reserve’s lands this March, in cooperation with the National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification.

The planting operation began in mid-March with the planting of 400,000 seedlings in Jubbah and 100,000 in Al-Tubayq and will be implemented in two stages until the end of November 2022, while irrigation and care services will continue until 2024.

The afforestation project is part of an agreement between KSRNR and the National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification, per the contract finalized by the center this year to plant 400,000 trees in KSRNR, including care and irrigation activities.

The agreement aims to increase the green area, reduce desertification, restore biodiversity in natural environments, and improve the quality of life, to achieve the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative. KSRNR also signed a contract to plant 100,000 seedlings in the Al-Tubayq area this year, including care work and irrigation services.

The tree planting efforts coincide with the Environment Week, which is held annually by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, where KSRNR is working on several initiatives in the reserve’s area.

KSRNR’s initiatives are in collaboration with National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification and the Universities in Tabuk, Hail, and Al-Jouf, and several voluntary bodies and charities.

These are the Green Tabuk Association, the Tabarjal team from the Sidr Al-Jouf Volunteer Association, among others, to achieve the necessary environmental awareness for the local communities, and in cooperation with educational, cultural and social organizations. — SPA