With the Participation of 27 Countries, the Kingdom Hosts the 27th Session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host, from September 29 to October 1, the 27th Session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission, organized jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification.

The 27th session, to be held in the Makkah Region, is expected to address advanced approaches and integrated solutions that can unlock the full potential of forests and rangelands in confronting the impacts of climate change, strengthening related food systems, and supporting inclusive and sustainable rural development.

The agenda will also cover several key topics, including exploring integration between the forestry sector and other sectors such as agroforestry, developing comprehensive frameworks for the restoration of degraded lands and ecosystems, and providing effective solutions to combat drought and desertification. Special focus will be given to the phenomena of forest fires and invasive species. Discussions will further highlight the Green Cities Initiative and the role of tree planting in combating sand and dust storms, in addition to technological transformation and the application of artificial intelligence to support resilient land systems in the face of climate change.

On this occasion, His Excellency Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, stated that the Kingdom’s hosting of the 27th Session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission comes within its vigorous efforts to promote environmental sustainability and align with global initiatives in this field, particularly in light of its current presidency of the United Nations Conference of the Parties to Combat Desertification (COP16). He also highlighted the Kingdom’s environmental initiatives, such as the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative.