RIYADH: Saudi Arabia actively observes the International Day of Forests on March 21, highlighting the significance of vegetation cover, forest diversity, and ecological sustainability.
The Kingdom's diverse landscapes host various forests, mainly in the Sarawat and Hijaz mountain ranges, including mountain, valley, and coastal mangrove forests. These ecosystems support unique plant species adapted to their specific climates.
Forests play a vital role in food security, supporting beekeeping, honey production, grazing, and agroforestry. They also contribute to medicinal production, job creation, economic development, and eco-tourism, aligning with global sustainability goals by helping combat desertification and climate change.
The National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification is actively involved in forest rehabilitation, vegetation monitoring, encroachment prevention, and illegal logging control. It also manages rangelands, forests, and national parks, supporting environmental sustainability as part of the Saudi Green Initiative.
[Reported by Saudi Press Agency]
