The First International Conference on Semi-Arid Mountain Environment in Asir region, which is organized by the Ministry of Water, Environment, and Agriculture in cooperation with the Emirate of Asir Province under the patronage of HRH Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Asir region, will be held from 17 to 19 September.
The delegations to take part in the conference comprise personalities from Arab States and States in other parts of the world, including America, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Morocco, Oman, Jordan, Sudan, Djibouti, Brazil, Tunisia, Greece, India, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Deputy Minister for Environment, Dr. Osama Faqiha said that the participants, speakers and experts from more than 16 countries, will discuss a wide range of issues, including ecotourism and development of national parks, agricultural tourism, and evaluation of tourism investment opportunities in Asir region. Adding that the participants will also discuss environmental standards and international environmental best practices for urban growth planning and road construction in forest areas, sustainable management of forest and national parks, promoting ecotourism, agritourism and forest fire monitoring, reducing forest degradation, improving the urban landscape and afforestation regulations across the cities.
Faqiha said that the conference will also deliberate on issues of agribusiness in rural and semi urban areas, promoting terracing and land conservation, supporting smallholder farmers, contributing to food security, preventing soil degradation and rationalizing the consumption of water.
Faqiha pointed out that the conference will include scientific and awareness sessions lay emphasis on the importance of conservation of the environment and forests, and afforestation, and will also confer on challenges facing coastal, marine and land environments, vegetation cover development and combating desertification. It will also demonstrate practical experience contributed to rural and urban development and ecotourism, as well as operationalize programs to conserve renewable natural resources.
Faqiha stressed that the conference is considered a great opportunity to shed light on the importance of mountain environment which is an attractive area for both investors and tourists that need to be protected and preserved, as well as the, efforts undertaken to develop the environment sector and future directions for the sector, as well as the international experiences that have developed mountain environments.
It is worth noting that The National Environment Strategy aims to hold a series of environmental local, regional and international conferences and meetings to discuss opportunities for the development of various environments in Saudi Arabia. And that the First International Conference on Semi-Arid Mountain Environment in Asir region is a platform for government stakeholders, universities, research centers, private sector, and non-governmental organizations to discuss the environmental challenges facing Asir region and to introduce viable solutions.