Saudi Arabia highlights rangeland sustainability efforts at Arab Environment Forum in Cairo

Saudi Arabia, represented by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, participated in the fifth Arab Environment Forum, held at the headquarters of the League of Arab States in Cairo under the theme "Rangeland sustainability to enhance resilience." The event took place ahead of the 37th session of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for Environmental Affairs.

During his participation in the high-level panel "From Fragility to Resilience: Investing in Rangeland Restoration and Financing Transformation," Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, explained that Saudi Arabia is committed to combating land degradation and promoting restoration, including rangelands, at the national, regional, and international levels. He cited the Middle East Green Initiative, the G20, and the Kingdom's presidency of the 16th session of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Conference of the Parties, which resulted in key decisions and several executive initiatives related to rangelands.

He added that Saudi Arabia is home to more than 2,000 plant species, with rangelands containing many of these and covering about 70% of the Kingdom's territory. These rangelands help stabilize soil, support wildlife, recharge groundwater, and reduce dust storms. He also noted that overgrazing and early grazing have negative environmental, social, and economic impacts.

Faqeeha stated that Saudi Arabia has developed a National Rangeland Strategy, adopted as an executive plan stemming from the National Environmental Strategy. The approach is based on two parallel tracks: an environmental track focused on protecting and developing rangeland vegetation through expanding reserves, afforestation, seed dispersal, and regulated grazing. So far, 1.2 million hectares have been rehabilitated, with a target of 2.5 million hectares by 2030 under the Saudi Green Initiative. The second track targets livestock development, aiming to shift to modern breeding methods and provide veterinary services and guidance to pastoral communities. This supports improved livestock productivity, food security, and economic returns from animal resources. The livestock track is being implemented gradually across regions and over time, in parallel with the environmental track, to balance rangeland vegetation sustainability, natural resource conservation, food security, and support for pastoral communities.