Riyadh gears up to host global experts in land productivity

The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification is set to host a workshop on tracking changes in land productivity and changing trends in soil organic carbon levels in extremely arid regions.

The workshop will take place in Riyadh from August 26 to 28 and will bring together global specialists as reported by the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday. It is being held in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, and the UN Development Programme Saudi Arabia, targeting strategies to combat drought and desertification.

This forms part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to reduce the environmental and societal impacts of these challenges. Addressing the issues of land productivity is central to sustainable development particularly in areas that experience more desertification. By focusing more on soil organic carbon stocks and the land dynamics, this will contribute to better strategies for maintaining and enhancing overall land health.

This focus on agricultural productivity and environmental balance in these regions, ultimately supports both local economies and ecosystems in the long term. The workshop also serves as a preparatory step of the 16^th meeting of the conference of the Parties (COP 16) which will take place in Riyadh during the month of December and will target land degradation and soil organic carbon in arid regions.

The center also tackles illegal logging and invests in pasture lands, forests and, national parks to promote sustainable development and fulfil the objectives of the Saudi Green initiative.

The workshop allows researchers, practitioners and policymakers several opportunities to engage with and forge relationships with international experts. These engagements build expertise in land productivity thus empowering Saudi professionals address environmental challenges more effectively.

The international recognition of Riyadh’s role as a host city, highlights its commitment to addressing global environmental issues and advancing research in land productivity. It enhances Saudi Arabia’s position on the global stage and reinforces its role as a leader in innovative solutions for both drought and desertification.

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