Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw , Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) commended the successful efforts made by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) to rehabilitate the vegetation cover in several locations, pointing out that the rehabilitation of the vegetation cover in dry lands faces significant challenges due to climatic and natural conditions.
This came during a meeting with the Deputy Minister for Environment, Dr. Osama I. Faqeeha.
During the meeting, they discussed cooperation between both parties in the field of combating desertification, land degradation and habitat loss. They also discussed the preparations for the G20 Meetings in 2020 in the fields of environment, in addition to presentations on the National Center for Development of the Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification.
Thiao stressed the need to transfer these successful experiences of the Kingdom to other countries with similar environmental conditions to the Kingdom. He also praised the work done at Ghat and Zulfi national parks.
Thiao also met with officials in the water and agriculture sectors where they reviewed the stages of implementation of the National Water Strategy, plans for rural development programs and rehabilitation of terraces in the Kingdom’s southwestern region.
Thiao stressed the importance of the Kingdom's leadership role at the regional, Islamic and international levels. He also pointed out that the success of Saudi Arabia in hosting the upcoming G20 summit is a great opportunity to present the critical global issues, including fresh water scarcity and land degradation, and its impact on global development, food security and biodiversity, well-being of peoples, peace and stability throughout the world.
Thiao said that Saudi Arabia is the most capable of bringing light to these serious global issues before the G20, because of Saudi Arabia's achievements in addressing these challenges, despite being in arid and hyperarid areas characterized by fragile environments and environmental scarcity. He also hailed the efforts made in legislative and institutional areas, vegetation rehabilitation projects, and sustainable management of natural resources, which all aimed at achieving food security and environmental conservation.