Under the patronage of Prince Saud ibn Nayef ibn ‘Abd Al-‘Aziz Al Sa’ud, Governor of the Eastern Province, Saudi Aramco on launched an ambitious environmental stewardship initiative to plant one million trees native to Saudi Arabia throughout the kingdom by 2025.
The ‘Saudi Aramco Environmental Initiative for Planting One Million Trees’ follows the company’s successful project of planting two million mangrove trees along the shores of the Arabian Gulf coast, which was completed in 2017, and is in keeping with Saudi Aramco’s ongoing effort toward nurturing the kingdom’s biodiversity. These environmental stewardship efforts are also aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, as well as the United Nations conventions on conserving biodiversity.
The project launch was highlighted by the inauguration of the 500,000 square metre Aramco Eco-Park by the Governor. It is anticipated that the establishment of the eco-park will make a significant contribution to the quality of life in the area while enhancing biodiversity and ‘sowing the seeds’ for future generations.
The ceremony included the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Saudi Aramco and the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Saudi Arabia, to enhance coordination and activate procedures and measures necessary to maintain the ecosystem, natural vegetation, and in support of forestation.
Ahmed S Aleyadah, deputy minister, and Nasser A Al Nafisee, Saudi Aramco vice president of corporate affairs, officially signed the MoU. The ceremony concluded with the dignitaries planting three trees native to Saudi Arabia to kick off the project.
A short film about Saudi Aramco’s environmental efforts in general, and the new initiative in particular, was also presented during the ceremony. Mohammed S Al Khulaify, an engineer with the Abqaiq Plants Operations Department, delivered a presentation on the initiative, addressing the company’s objectives, strategies, and experience in using polymer technology to irrigate trees.
