Green Riyadh, a comprehensive urban reforestation project has been officially launched in seven neighbourhoods around Riyadh.
Launched under the supervision of the Committee of Grand Projects chaired by the HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, the project aims to completely rehabilitate 120 residential neighbourhoods with afforestation.
The Green Riyadh project with three other well-being projects was announced in 2019 with the vision to fulfill a key goal of Vision 2030 to promote Riyadh’s position among the world’s top 100 most livable cities.
The seven residential neighbourhoods where afforestation has begun include Al-Aziziyah, Al-Naseem, Al-Jazeera, Al-Araija, Qurtuba, Al-Ghadir, and Al-Nakhil.
The project will see the setting up of 56 gardens in the Aziziyah neighbourhood and 97 in the Al-Naseem neighbourhood, all of which are among the 3,000 gardens that are under construction as part of the program’s work, which will be developed soon.
The Green Riyadh project will see 7.5mn trees being planted across the capital and will contribute an increase in per capita green space from 1.7m2 to 28m2 and increase the total green space in the city to 9% or 545m2.
Abdulaziz Al Moqbel, the director of the Green Riyadh Project, in an interview with Al Ekhbariya, stated that the Green Riyadh program targets the afforestation of a number of places in the city of Riyadh, such as parks, roads, and internal streets in neighbourhoods, in addition to the courtyards of mosques and schools.
Green Riyadh project details ambitious afforestation road map
The program also aims to plant trees at a number of facilities targeted to enhance the quality of life in Riyadh, such as the establishment of playgrounds for children, sports facilities, jogging and cycle paths, many facilities suitable for families and much more. The implementation of afforestation in the roads and neighborhoods will contribute to the construction of sidewalks and pedestrian pathways, which will help raise the walking steps of individuals.
In addition to its important role in improving air quality and reducing temperatures, it will save natural areas and biological diversity inside and outside the city of Riyadh.
It is worth mentioning that Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman unveiled the Saudi Green Initiative and the Green Middle East Initiative in March 2021. He said that the two initiatives will shape the state’s propensity to protect the earth and nature.
This initiative will clearly define an ambitious road map that will impact the region and contribute significantly to achieving the global goals in combating climate change.
The Crown Prince said, as a major global oil producer, the kingdom fully recognises the responsibility for its part in advancing the fight against the climate crisis.
The kingdom is going to be a global leader in creating a greener world, just as it anchored energy markets during the oil and gas era.
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