Riyadh (UNA/SPA) - Five dialogue sessions were held yesterday, Sunday, as part of the closing day of the International Forum on Afforestation Technologies 2024, which is being held in conjunction with the United Nations Conference to Combat Desertification (COP16) in Riyadh.
Today's sessions witnessed intensive discussions on various issues related to vegetation cover development, sustainable management, combating desertification, and urban afforestation, with broad participation from international and local experts.
The sessions began with a discussion of the topic of “Developing and Managing Sustainable Vegetation Cover,” where speakers emphasized the importance of major afforestation projects such as “Green Saudi Arabia” and “Green Riyadh,” which aim to plant billions of trees, enhancing biodiversity and improving the quality of life.
Experts pointed out that sustainable afforestation is not only an environmental solution but also represents an important economic opportunity by utilizing secondary products such as wood and beekeeping. They also stressed the need to manage these projects in a way that achieves environmental, social and economic sustainability, while enhancing the role of the private sector in supporting environmental initiatives.
The discussion then moved to “Monitoring and Managing Vegetation Cover”, where the session reviewed modern technologies such as satellites and drones that allow for the collection of accurate data that contributes to improving environmental monitoring and making effective decisions.
The session showed that environmental legislation in the Kingdom constitutes a pivotal step to support green investments.
The discussions addressed the challenges resulting from climate change and the increase in forest fires, and the importance of using advanced technologies to respond quickly to these disasters.
In the session “Urban Afforestation and Biodiversity”, experts pointed out that coordination between trees and plants in cities contributes to mitigating the impact of climate change and improving the quality of life, discussing the importance of choosing local plants suitable for the climate and soil in the Kingdom, and the role of plant diversity in reducing carbon emissions and creating a healthier environment.
The session reviewed the positive impact of plant spaces in cities on mental health and quality of life, calling for the promotion of urban afforestation projects.
The session “Afforestation of Green Belts, Roads and Railways” witnessed a discussion of the role of afforestation in reducing sand encroachment and improving air quality. It pointed out the importance of building green belts as a sustainable solution to confront the challenges of encroaching sand, while it addressed the benefits of increasing the green area in reducing climate risks and enhancing community awareness of the importance of the environment.
The sessions concluded with a closing session during which the Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the Forum, Dr. Ahmed Al-Farhan, announced the success of the COP16 conference and the accompanying exhibition, reflecting the Kingdom’s efforts to enhance international cooperation to achieve environmental sustainability.
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