Jeddah has welcomed the opening of the 27th session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission (NEFRC), organized by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in cooperation with the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification.
The event marks the commission’s 70th anniversary.
The discussions focus on a wide range of critical topics, including land restoration frameworks, combating drought and desertification, forest fires, invasive species, and green cities, alongside exploring women’s participation in non-wood forest products and pastoral value chains. Government representatives and experts from 25 countries are taking part in the talks to enhance sustainable land use and resilience of forests and rangelands.
Officials highlighted the Kingdom’s leadership role in environmental initiatives through programs such as the Saudi Green Initiative and Vision 2030, which aim to plant billions of trees, restore degraded forests and mountains, establish protected areas and royal reserves, and fight desertification.
Efforts also include advancing regional cloud-seeding programs and raising community awareness on the importance of preserving vegetation.
The session serves as a vital regional platform to exchange expertise, strengthen cooperation, and address shared environmental challenges to achieve sustainable development across the Near East.
