RIYADH: As the Saudi Green Initiative moves from setting targets to delivering results, a central challenge remains: How can the Kingdom grow more than 600 million trees by 2030 without placing further pressure on its scarce water resources?
More than 159 million trees had been planted and 1 million hectares of degraded land restored by early 2026, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture announced in March.
Thomas Crowther, professor of environmental science and engineering at KAUST, told Arab News that the target is achievable, but success will depend on more than planting trees.
“That scale of regeneration is undoubtedly possible, but the key to success will not only be the ‘planting’ of trees,” he said.
Regeneration, he explained, involves removing the pressures that prevent nature from recovering, allowing trees and other vegetation to return naturally. In parts of the Kingdom where severe drought and overgrazing have been addressed, ecosystems have demonstrated considerable potential for recovery.
Alexandre Rosado, professor of bioscience, environmental science and engineering at KAUST, shared that assessment.
“Yes, I think it is achievable,” he told Arab News.
While describing the target as ambitious, Rosado said the Kingdom’s diverse landscapes offer opportunities for different restoration approaches. Success, he stressed, depends on matching native species to suitable locations and available water resources.
