NWC and KARRDA discuss planting 3 million saplings in 28,000 Km2 by 2030

King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority (KARRDA) and National Water Company (NWC) are discussing the plantation of about 3 million wild saplings within the boundaries of the reserve, which covers an area of more than 28,000 square kilometers and includes within its space several green parks, the most important of which are: Al-Khafs, Al-Tanhat, and Noura.

NWC and KARRDA signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote environmental conservation and sustainability, and to promote rural development and development using modern scientific techniques and applications. This MoU discussions aims to raise awareness of the importance of preserving the environment and its natural components and community partnership between institutions. 

The MoU was signed on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, where the National Water Company was represented by its CEO Dr. Fuad bin Ahmad Al-ShikhMubarak, while the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority was represented by its CEO Engineer Maher bin Abdullah Al-Qathmi, on the sidelines of the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) Forum, on the sidelines of the sixteenth Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, which was held in Riyadh from December 2 to 13. 

The parties said: "The MoU includes conducting studies to use sewage sludge as a fertilizer for soil reclamation according to the specifications of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, identifying suitable areas for planting and its method, and the type of saplings targeted according to each region, conducting a study of irrigation needs for the areas targeted for planting, determining the amount of water needed, securing a nursery and preparing afforestation sites by fencing and digging, transporting treated water from treatment plants to the reserve, installing, operating and maintaining networks, pumps and tanks to provide water for the planting of trees in the areas targeted for planting.

Conducting an irrigation needs assessment of the areas to be planted, determining the amount of water required, securing a nursery and equipping the planting sites with fencing and pits, transporting treated water from the treatment plants to the reserve, installation, operation and maintenance of networks, pumps and tanks to ensure access to water, and supervising the implementation of the planting activities".

The MoU also provides for the supply of the necessary quantities of sewage sludge as fertilizer to carry out preliminary studies, the location of water treatment plants (STPs) near the boundaries of the reserve, and the supply of approximately 3 million wild saplings by 2030 to be planted in the reserve. 

The MoU between the National Water Company and the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority comes in support of national efforts to address climate and environmental challenges, in line with the directives of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to standardize national and international efforts to address global environmental challenges, expand the area of environmental vegetation, find solutions to global climate change, and support the Saudi Green Initiative.