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SAKAKA: º£½ÇÖ±²¥'s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority said Friday that 750,000 hectares of degraded land so far had been successfully rehabilitated under its restoration and greening programs.

In a report carried by the Saudi Press Agency on the occasion of World Agriculture Day, the authority also reported successfully planting 3,992,200 seedlings across the 130,700-square kilometer reserve.

To support the natural regeneration of forests and rangelands, workers at the reserve had dispersed a total of 7,500 kilograms of local seeds so far, including yarrow, artemisia and haloxylon, the authority said. 

These projects are part of the wider Saudi Green Initiative launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on March 27, 2021, a comprehensive national plan aligned with Saudi Vision 2030’s goals to combat climate change by reducing carbon emissions, increasing afforestation, and protecting land and marine ecosystems.

At the royal reserve, restoration efforts are focused on reclaiming vast areas affected by desertification and overgrazing, thereby paving the way for the return of plant life, the authority said.

Named after the Kingdom's incumbent king, the reserve was established by royal order in June 2018, consolidating existing protected areas spanning the Kingdom's northern provinces in Tabuk, Northern Borders, Al-Jouf, and Hail.

It is home to more than 550 plant species, representing significant environmental wealth that requires sustained protection to ensure the sustainability of its natural resources for future generations.

The reserve has so far relocated 1,235 wildlife species, including Arabian oryx, sand gazelles, Arabian gazelles, and Arabian leopards.

The reserve is also a vital hub for migratory birds. It serves as the Kingdom’s first stop for flocks arriving from Asia and Europe in the fall, and their last station before departing Africa in spring.