Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) has completed a study titled "Methods of Preventing Forest Fires and Addressing Their Impacts in the Southern and Southwestern Regions of Saudi Arabia," in collaboration with King Khalid University and Monash University in Australia. This study is part of its efforts to enhance forest protection and reduce the risk of fires, in order to achieve environmental sustainability goals.

The study included a comprehensive assessment of forest conditions, the creation of a digital database, and the development of an integrated action plan that includes relevant agencies, defining the tasks of each agency. It utilized modern technologies such as early warning and drones. It also presented field designs and sustainable alternatives for creating strategic corridors, developed a guide for post-fire forest rehabilitation, established an organizational structure for a joint operations room, and activated the role of the community and volunteer teams in prevention and control.

It also placed particular importance on community engagement, by developing a comprehensive mechanism that enables community volunteer teams in forest areas to effectively contribute to prevention and control efforts through training, qualification, and integration with the work of official agencies.

This study represents a distinguished model of institutional, technical, and societal integration in the field of forest development and protection. It affirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to preserving its natural resources and confronting the challenges of climate change, reflecting a strategic vision that seeks to achieve a balance between development and the protection of ecosystems.

The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification is working to enhance the presence of sustainable vegetation cover in forests. It has adopted an initiative to plant 60 million trees, equivalent to rehabilitating 300,000 hectares by 2030. In addition, it works on the executive regulations for vegetation cover development and combating desertification, through Article 6 on forest regulations. This aims to prepare and implement a national plan for sustainable forest management, work to protect, preserve, and develop forests, and regulate grazing in forest lands.