Saudi Arabia launched its National Greening Season on Wednesday, October 7, starting the third year of an environmental initiative to restore degraded land and combat desertification across the Kingdom.
The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, which operates under the Saudi Green Initiative, announced the campaign under the slogan: “A generation plants for a thriving nation.” Government agencies, private companies, and nonprofit organizations are coordinating efforts to expand native vegetation suited to Saudi Arabia’s climate.
Scale and Targets
The initiative has produced measurable results. In the two years since its 2024 launch, teams rehabilitated more than 51,000 hectares by harvesting rainwater and sowing 109 tonnes of seeds from 40 indigenous plant species. This year’s campaign aims to rehabilitate another 60,000 hectares, with operations spreading more than 110 tonnes of seeds across 70 native species. Planners coordinate seed distribution with cloud-seeding missions to improve germination rates.
The cumulative target is ambitious: 350,000 rehabilitated hectares by 2030. That’s four years away. The deadline gives the program a clear benchmark for success.
University Leadership
Jazan University has become a leading institutional participant. Abadi Mashlawi, acting director of the Environmental and Nature Research Center and head of the Biology Department, reported that the university met 100 percent of its National Greening Program targets after planting 38,946 trees last year. So far, the university has planted about 60,821 trees and flowers at 24 campus locations.
The university is expanding green spaces and adding species adapted to local conditions in student housing, around colleges, and at the university mosque. Mashlawi said the work aims to lower temperatures, improve air quality, and enhance the campus environment—concrete benefits that can be measured in campus conditions.
Government and Regional Rollout
In Najran, Deputy Governor Prince Turki bin Hudhulul bin Abdulaziz inaugurated the season, signaling high-level government commitment. Mureeh Al-Shahrani, director general of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s Najran branch, and Muhannad Al-Yami, director general of the National Center for Vegetation Cover in Najran, attended the ceremony.
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture described the initiative as a way to strengthen environmental volunteerism and raise awareness of sustainable practices across society. Officials said the program supports closer coordination between national and community efforts to sustain the environment and promote the nation’s prosperity.
The National Greening Program posted on social media: “From a small sapling begins a story of impact. In the National Greening Season, our relationship with the earth is renewed.” The message invites public participation and presents environmental restoration as a national undertaking with implications across generations.
Why This Matters:
Saudi Arabia’s environmental strategy reflects a shift in how Gulf states approach sustainability and resource management. Large-scale rehabilitation of degraded land tackles desertification, a longstanding regional challenge, while choosing indigenous species helps ensure planted vegetation can survive arid conditions without intensive maintenance. The program’s scope—350,000 hectares by 2030—signals that environmental restoration has become a strategic priority for Saudi policymakers. Its success will show whether Gulf governments can carry out ambitious domestic infrastructure projects with sustained commitment across multiple government agencies and community sectors.