Saudi Arabia's Coastal mangrove-growing program on success track

Saudi Arabia is making significant progress towards its goal of planting 100 million mangrove trees by 2030 as part of the Saudi Green Initiative and Vision 2030 plan.

Since the launch of the ambitious coastal forest-cover program a year ago, 13 million mangrove seedlings have been planted, according to the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC), as reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Most of these projects are concentrated along the Red Sea coast, with Jazan province leading at 5.5 million seedlings. Makkah province follows with 2.4 million, Madinah with 2 million, Tabuk with 1.5 million and Asir with 1 million. Along the Arabian Gulf coast, the Eastern Province has planted 500,000 seedlings. Before the formal launch of the project along the Arabian Gulf, 700,000 seedlings had already been planted, including 200,000 on Ras Abu Ali Island in Jubail governorate and 500,000 in Al-Wajh governorate.

The NCVC ensures that the project includes fencing and caring for the seedlings to protect them from algae, seaweed, grazing and encroachment.

On Wednesday, the NCVC and the Asir Region Development Authority launched the “Mangrove Restoration” program to mark the UN’s International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, held annually on July 26. Campaigners planted 500 mangrove seedlings on the beaches of Al-Barak governorate, led by Al-Barak Gov. Abdullah bin Ali bin Muhya and Mayor Nasser Saeed Al-Shahrani.

Marine scientists emphasize that mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs work together to maintain healthy coastal zones.