Saudi authorities to launch activities of Environment Week in Riyadh on Sunday

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli will inaugurate on Sunday the activities and exhibition of the Environment Week in the capital, Riyadh, Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
Under the slogan “Our Environment is Our Responsibility,” the activities aim to raise awareness on the importance of preserving the environment, spreading environmental culture, consolidating quality of life goals, activating the role of individuals, istitutions and various government agencies in preserving the environment and maintaining ecological balance in accordance with the objectives Vision 2030.
This year’s Environment Week includes a number of various events in 21 regions and cities across the Kingdom, with Riyadh hosting the most prominent events through a large interactive exhibition inaugurated by Al-Fadhli for seven days.
It contains several sections on vegetation cover, combating desertification, wild and marine life, waste management, pollution, meteorology and environmental protection. It also includes workshops on recycling and handicrafts using environmentally friendly tools, in addition to a children’s theater, awareness-raising theatrical performances and activities for children, as well as meetings with environmental centers and associations.
Elsewhere, the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority began planting half a million tree seedlings in the reserve’s lands this March, in cooperation with the National Center for Vegetation Development.
The project began in mid-March with planting 400,000 seedlings in Jubbah and 100,000 in Tabiq, and will continue in two periods until the end of November, while irrigation and nurturing will continue until 2024.
The afforestation project is part of the agreement between the authority and the center, and aims to increase the green area, reduce desertification, restore biodiversity in natural environments, and improve the quality of life, in order to achieve the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative.
The authority also signed a contract to plant 100,000 seedlings in Tabiq this year, including nurturing and irrigation services.