Under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, deputy prime minister and minister of defense, the International Exhibition and Forum on Afforestation Technologies is scheduled to be held between May 29 and 31, 2022. It is organized by the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center in coordination and cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, out of their role in developing, protecting and sustaining the vegetation cover according to the Saudi Vision 2030. On the occasion, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Chairman of the Board of Directors of NCVC Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli extended his appreciation to the Crown Prince for patronizing the event, stressing that organizing this event has a special importance to Saudi Arabia for its intensified efforts and increasing attention to the vegetation cover. It is also the main pillar for the National Environment Strategy that represents a road map to realize the aspirations of the Saudi Vision 2030 on protecting and developing the environment, in addition to Saudi Arabia's international pioneering role in the environmental field and its announcements of global environmental initiatives that seek to develop the vegetation cover. He also referred to the Crown Prince's efforts exerted in caring for the vegetation cover locally, regionally and internationally through the ambitious forestry initiatives, such as the Saudi Green Initiative and Middle East Green Initiative, and the Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation. He has made efforts to enhance the protection of wild habitats to restore lands and stop their degradation, and the International Coral Reef Initiative, with the last two initiatives, being included in the Ministry of Environment's declaration during the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's presidency of the G20 in 2020. For his part, NCVC CEO Dr. Khaled Al-Abdulqader said that the exhibition and forum include several comprehensive and integral aspects related to forestry and technologies of combating desertification, such as forestry, irrigation methods, water resources and technologies, nurseries and seeds, recycling environmental wastes, environmental monitoring and protection, developing and investing forests and parks, and combating plant scourges. He added that the event seeks to provide a platform to encourage government and semi-government institutions, and non-profit commissions, companies and organizations to become targeted stakeholders to combat desertification and increase the area of vegetation cover. This is in addition to highlighting the pioneering role of the center in developing the vegetation cover and combating desertification and checking on the top research papers, studies and technologies in the fields of forestry and combating desertification, as well as contributing to realizing several goals of the Saudi Vision 2030. Dr. Al-Abdulqader said that the exhibition will welcome local and international companies to display the latest technologies and innovations in the fields of combating desertification and alleviating its impacts; developing and protecting the green cover; enhancing cooperation among experts, senior investors, heads of companies, decision makers, providers of technical solutions, academia, specialized researchers in the environment sector and its issues. He added the expo welcomed experts in climate and participants getting acquainted with models for success around the world to benefit from them; and attracting international expertise suitable for our environment. — SPA
