Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The ‘Green Riyadh’ program announced the start of afforestation work in Al-Jazirah district, which is the third residential neighborhood in the city selected under the project.

The program aims to plant more than 39,000 trees and shrubs as well as to construct 11 gardens in Al-Jazirah neighborhood. Trees will also be planted in the surroundings of 37 mosques and 14 schools, and along 36 kilometers of roads and streets in the district.

After Al-Jazirah, afforestation work will continue in the neighborhoods of Al-Uraija, Qurtuba, Al-Ghadeer and Al-Nakhil. Contracts have already been signed for the implementation of the program in these districts.

The details of the afforestation of Al-Jazirah was announced during an event held in the neighborhood. The event was designed as an interactive journey for the visitors to acquaint with the various stages that the project will go through until completion. The program is meant to make Riyadh one of the best cities in the world.

The visitor’s journey to the event begins with an introduction to the 'Green Riyadh' program and the Neighborhood Afforestation project, through advanced presentation techniques, which help visitors visualize the future neighborhood and what it looks like after the completion of the afforestation of roads and streets as well as the development of parks and other facilities.

The afforestation of residential neighborhoods will contribute to raising the quality of life for residents and visitors of the capital. Residents will enjoy paths shaded by trees, which encourage walking. With the provision of outdoor spaces for picnics, the the neighborhood will have all the elements that promote a healthy lifestyle.

The ‘Green Riyadh’ program is one of the major Riyadh development projects. It is the initiative of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, launched by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman. This is aimed to achieve one of the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in terms of upgrading Riyadh to a world-class city. Green Riyadh aims to plant a total of 7.5 million trees in the city, significantly enhancing its vegetation cover.