The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reclaims one million hectares of land and plants more than 159 million trees within the framework of the Green Initiative/representative image
Saudi Arabia has achieved a major environmental achievement, converting degraded lands into green cover on a large scale. This progress reflects a long-term national push to restore ecosystems, expand vegetation and address desertification.Saudi Arabia has restored one million hectares of degraded land and planted more than 159 million trees, marking a major achievement under the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI), launched by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2021. The initiative aims to plant 10 billion trees, equivalent to rehabilitating 40 million hectares across the Kingdom.Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdul Rahman Al-Fadhli said that this achievement reflects the leadership’s commitment to environmental sustainability in light of Saudi Vision 2030.
He pointed out that restoration efforts began with only 18,000 hectares, then expanded to 250,000 hectares by 2024, before reaching one million hectares in early 2026.He added that this progress came in coordination between government agencies, the private sector and society, highlighting the role of the initiative in preserving biodiversity and local plants. He pointed out the importance of royal reserves and modern water harvesting techniques in sustaining these efforts.
“This success embodies a unified national effort,” Al-Fadhli said, adding that the work enhances wildlife conservation and ecosystem resilience.Current progress paves the way for achieving the next target of 2.5 million hectares by 2030, supported by projects such as dam water use and rainwater harvesting, which are expected to support the expansion of green cover in the long term.Deputy Minister M. Mansour Al-Mushaiti described this achievement as a “qualitative leap” towards the Kingdom’s ambitious goals.
He said it was in line with SGI’s goal of planting 10 billion trees and rehabilitating 40 million hectares, while also highlighting specialized programs such as the National Cloud Seeding Programme, which has increased 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, praised the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and said that they reflect an integrated approach and clear political will. “This achievement proves that land restoration is possible even in the most difficult environments,” she said.She also indicated that the Kingdom’s efforts contribute to strengthening international cooperation in the field of land reclamation through initiatives such as the Green Middle East Initiative and hosting the sixteenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
