Riyadh, March 27, 2026(Kamran Raja): Saudi Arabia has reached a landmark environmental achievement by restoring one million hectares of degraded land and planting over 159 million trees, marking a significant milestone under the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI).
Launched in 2021 by His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the initiative aims to plant 10 billion trees and rehabilitate 40 million hectares across the Kingdom as part of broader sustainability goals aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.
Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley described the milestone as a reflection of the Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability. He highlighted the rapid progress from just 18,000 hectares restored in the early stages to 250,000 hectares by 2024, culminating in the one-million-hectare achievement in early 2026.
Alfadley emphasized that this progress has been driven by strong collaboration between government entities, the private sector, and local communities. He also underscored the role of biodiversity preservation, restoration of native vegetation, and innovative solutions such as water harvesting and the contribution of royal reserves in sustaining long-term environmental gains.
“This success embodies a unified national effort,” Alfadley stated, noting the initiative’s positive impact on wildlife conservation and ecosystem resilience. He added that current momentum is expected to accelerate progress toward restoring 2.5 million hectares by 2030, supported by projects focused on dam water utilization and rainfall harvesting.
Vice Minister Eng. Mansour Almushaiti described the milestone as a qualitative leap toward achieving SGI’s ambitious targets. He highlighted key initiatives such as the National Cloud Seeding Program, which has enhanced rainfall and contributed to a 50 percent reduction in dust storms in 2025 compared to the previous year.
International recognition has also followed the achievement. Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, praised Saudi Arabia’s accomplishment, noting that it demonstrates how large-scale land restoration is achievable even in challenging environments.
She further commended the Kingdom’s leadership in advancing global cooperation on land restoration through initiatives such as the Middle East Green Initiative and its hosting of COP16 of the UNCCD.
This milestone reinforces Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a global leader in environmental sustainability and climate action, setting a strong foundation for achieving its long-term ecological and developmental goals.