Saudi Royal Reserves to plant 80m trees as it looks to attract 2.3m tourists

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Council of Royal Reserves, has approved the Royal Reserves strategic targets till 2030.

The targets, which focus on afforestation, wildlife protection, job creation and boosting visitation, are set in support of the Royal Reserves’ overarching strategies.

Saudi Royal Reserves

The targets will play a crucial role in meeting the Kingdom’s sustainability and environmental targets set in the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI), which aim to protect 30 per cent of the Kingdom’s terrestrial and marine area by 2030 and plant 10bn trees over the coming decades.

The Royal Reserves cover 13.5 per cent of Saudi territory.

They help protect and reintroduce more than 30 species of endangered native animals to the country.

Moreover, the Royal Reserves will contribute to meeting the Kingdom’s afforestation targets with more than 80 million trees and shrubs due to be planted by 2030.

The Royal Reserves are unique and exceptional destinations for eco-tourism and are expected to cement the Kingdom’s position as one of the world’s top tourism destinations.

They are set to attract more than 2.3m visitors annually, in addition to rehabilitating and protecting more than 15 heritage sites by 2030.

It is expected that these environmental and tourism targets will contribute to creating direct and indirect jobs for local communities by 2030.

Inaugurated by a Royal Decree, the Council of Royal Reserves outlines the strategic directions for the Royal Reserves’ ecosystem in order to preserve its environmental and natural components, reintroduce wildlife, nurture its development, and stimulate eco-tourism, while also ensuring each Royal Reserve maintains its individual identity.

The Royal Reserves development authorities were established to create strategies and plans, and to manage all aspects related to the operation and implementation of its activities.