Saudi Arabia has restored 1 million hectares of degraded land and planted more than 159 million trees under the Saudi Green Initiative, marking a major step in the Kingdom’s environmental restoration efforts. Environment, Water and Agriculture Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli said the progress reflects coordinated work involving government agencies, the private sector and nonprofit organizations.
The Saudi Green Initiative 1 million hectares milestone forms part of a much larger national target. The National Greening Program, which serves as the initiative’s executive arm, aims to rehabilitate 40 million hectares and plant 10 billion trees through 155 initiatives across 11 operational zones.
Technology is playing a crucial role in monitoring the restoration work. The program works with the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, using remote sensing, satellite imagery, drones and geographic information systems to track soil conditions, land productivity and other environmental indicators.
The restoration projects have helped bring back native vegetation and support biodiversity. They have also achieved cumulative carbon sequestration of more than 2.2 million tonnes of CO₂. Meanwhile, dust storms across Saudi Arabia fell by nearly 50% in 2025 compared with historical averages.
The initiative has also created more than 68,000 jobs in areas including rangeland management, nurseries and environmental services. It is supporting emerging sectors such as ecotourism and native plant production, alongside sustainable agriculture.
Saudi Arabia’s 159 million-tree milestone is part of the Kingdom’s broader effort to address land degradation and climate change while developing environmental and economic opportunities.
