The General Department of Forests is dedicated to the protection, development, and enhancement of forests in all their forms, including mountain forests, valley forests, and mangrove forests. It aims to build a comprehensive database for sustainable forest management, contribute to the development of forest protection laws and regulations, establish rehabilitation programs for degraded areas, increase forest areas through afforestation projects, and monitor and report natural and human-induced threats.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and implement emergency preparedness and response plans in coordination with relevant entities.
- Sustainably manage and restore forest lands according to international standards and practices suitable for arid environments.
- Establish forest nurseries and research ways to prevent fires, pests, and diseases.
- Collaborate with universities, research centers, and institutions to enhance sustainable conservation and management of forest ecosystems.
- Raise environmental awareness and encourage social participation to enhance forest protection.
- Reforest areas and reintroduce extinct or endangered native plant species.
- Update regulations and prepare studies and reports related to forests.
- Identify and classify degraded forests, and determine the causes of degradation.
- Reforest and maintain mangrove trees along coastlines by selecting suitable seeds and saplings.
Targets:
- Plant 60 million trees, equivalent to rehabilitating 240,000 hectares of forest land by 2030.
- Enhance ecosystem protection, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable management of forests.
- Engage local communities and the private sector in forest management.
- Strengthen forest governance frameworks to promote institutional development and participatory management.
- Support forests' contribution to sustainable economic development by promoting eco-tourism and combating climate change.
Achievements:
- Developed the Forest Strategy and Plan (FSP).
- Defined the boundaries of forest reserves and created a comprehensive forest atlas for each province.
- Conducted a national inventory of forest resources, particularly in key provinces.
- Established a national monitoring system for forest lands and fire surveillance.
- Promoted the restoration of degraded forest lands using only native species.
- Organized specialized workshops and established several forest research centers for applied and developmental research.
- Launched a national program to rehabilitate and protect valleys in Saudi Arabia.
- Celebrated international environmental days, including International Day of Forests (March 21) and the International Day for International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem (July 26).
- Developed a plan to promote agroforestry in Saudi Arabia to increase tree cover in agricultural and rangelands.
- Established a system to protect ancient trees and raised awareness of their importance.
Overview of Forests in Saudi Arabia:
Mountain Forests:
These forests are located in the southern and southwestern regions of Saudi Arabia, stretching along the Hejaz and Sarawat mountain ranges, from Taif to Jazan. The key species found here include Juniperus procera, Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata, and various types of acacia trees.
Valley Forests:
These are natural basins or depressions found across all regions of the Kingdom, with acacia and Ziziphus spina-christi (Christ's thorn jujube) trees being the primary species.
Mangrove Forests:
Consisting of perennial trees that thrive in coastal environments, particularly in shallow tropical and subtropical areas influenced by tidal movements. Most mangroves are found along the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf coasts, with mangroves as the dominant species.
