Saudi restores 1m hectares of land for green

By Samuel Ogunsona

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced the rehabilitation of one million hectares of degraded land under the Saudi Green Initiative, SGI.

This marks a significant achievement in the country’s efforts to combat land degradation and promote sustainability.

The milestone is particularly notable given the country’s challenging climatic conditions and limited water availability.

The restoration effort, which combines innovation, science-based solutions, and long-term planning, has strengthened ecosystem resilience and improved land productivity.

Measures such as cloud seeding programs, early warning systems for sand and dust storms, and the expansion of protected areas have contributed to this success.

“This milestone shows that restoring land at scale is not only possible but also it is already happening.

“In a world facing rising drought and increasing water stress, this achievement sends a clear signal: with the right policies, science, and commitment, countries can turn environmental challenges into opportunities for resilience and growth.” said UNCCD Executive Secretary Dr. Yasmine Fouad.

Saudi Arabia’s efforts are part of a broader commitment to sustainability, with goals to plant 10 billion trees and restore 74.8 million hectares of land by 2030.

The country has already made significant progress, planting over 151 million trees and rehabilitating 500,000 hectares of land.

“Reaching one million hectares of restored land marks a pivotal milestone in Saudi Arabia’s environmental journey,” said Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture..

“It reflects our leadership’s commitment to sustainability and demonstrates how coordinated action across government, private sector, and communities can deliver lasting impact.”