September 30, 2024, marks a significant milestone in the National Center for Vegetation Cover's (NCVC) efforts to promote sustainable development and environmental sustainability in Saudi Arabia. The NCVC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Green Dahna Association, a strategic partnership that aims to enhance cooperation and coordination for the sustainable development of natural vegetation cover and the rehabilitation of degraded lands.
The MoU covers several key areas of cooperation, including the exchange of national strategies focused on increasing and preserving vegetation cover, protecting natural resources, and collaborating on identifying suitable sites for tree planting. The parties will also work together to select appropriate sapling species for each location, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the vegetation cover.
The partnership also emphasizes the importance of organizing workshops and training sessions aimed at vegetation cover development and sustainability. These sessions will provide opportunities for knowledge sharing, skill-building, and capacity-building among stakeholders, ultimately contributing to the development of a skilled workforce in the field.
In addition to these areas of cooperation, the partnership will focus on raising public awareness through environmental campaigns and fostering positive behaviors in protecting vegetation cover. This includes promoting environmentally responsible practices, such as reducing water consumption and conserving energy, among individuals and communities.
The MoU also highlights the importance of research and studies to expand green spaces and collaborate on joint projects that serve developmental and environmental goals. This includes efforts to protect certain floodplains and sandy meadows while enhancing community involvement in environmental initiatives.
The partnership between the NCVC and the Green Dahna Association aligns with the NCVC's broader mission to establish a framework for collaboration with civil society organizations and local associations. By uniting efforts, this partnership will implement initiatives that aim to develop natural vegetation cover, combat desertification, reduce sand encroachment, and restore wildlife habitats.
The NCVC's initiatives are integral to the Kingdom's ongoing environmental efforts, including the ambitious project to plant 10 billion trees as part of Saudi Vision 2030. The center's projects are designed to contribute to global efforts to combat climate change and reduce carbon emissions, promoting sustainable environmental and economic development in line with the Saudi Green Initiative's overarching goals.
Through its projects, the NCVC actively contributes to sustainable environmental development, rehabilitating degraded lands, combating illegal tree cutting, and overseeing the management of rangelands and national parks. The center's commitment to its mission is unwavering, and its partnership with the Green Dahna Association is a significant step towards achieving its goals.