Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar

:: Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar has launched an initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture to plant 1 million trees in Riyadh, as part of the ministry’s initiative to grow 4 million trees in the Kingdom by 2020.

During the inauguration of the campaign, the governor planted a Ghaf tree in the courtyard of Imam Muhammad bin Saud Palace in Riyadh, in the presence of Mansour Al-Mushaiti, deputy minister for planning and development at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.

Ghaf, a drought-tolerant evergreen tree, is an indigenous species found in the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

The presence of Ghaf in an area indicates there is water underground. The tree taps water stored deep in the sand, its roots penetrating as deep as 30 meters to access it, so the tree can withstand very low rainfall and still stay green.

In a speech, Prince Faisal praised the ministry’s initiative to rehabilitate the natural vegetation cover of the local environment and confront desertification. He expressed hope that the initiative will achieve its objectives.

The ministry said it will take into account the appropriate planting seasons for each area and type of tree. It is also raising environmental awareness in the Kingdom via awareness campaigns and environmental camps.

During a briefing , the governor was told that some 800,000 seedlings will be planted in various parts of the Kingdom. They will be taken from nurseries in the provinces of Zulfi, Al-Ghat, Shakra and Al-Kharj.