Majed Alsolaim, chief executive of Al Ghadha Parks, shows the Guinness World Record certificate for largest saxaul botanical garden held by the park.
Abdullah Abduljabar, Vice President of Al Ghadha Parks in Qassim, central Saudi Arabia, where a huge saxaul tree planting programme is being planned. All photos by Reuters
Al Ghadha Parks is the world's largest saxaul botanical garden. For centuries millions of the trees, known by their Arabic name al ghadha, provided firewood, animal feed and respite from the desert heat for the Bedouin forefathers of modern Saudis.
The trees produce seeds only as they become drier. Current conditions have provided the seeds to plant 250,000 drought-resistant saxauls in the region.
Saxaul roots bind the desert sands, helping to constrain sandstorms.
The kingdom aims to plant 10 billion trees in the coming decades as part of an ambitious campaign unveiled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last year.
It is part of a green initiative aimed at reducing carbon emissions, pollution and land degradation.
Abdullah Abduljabar checks soil quality in the saxaul garden.
Majed Alsolaim, chief executive of Al Ghadha Parks, shows the Guinness World Record certificate for largest saxaul botanical garden held by the park.
Abdullah Abduljabar, Vice President of Al Ghadha Parks in Qassim, central Saudi Arabia, where a huge saxaul tree planting programme is being planned. All photos by Reuters
Al Ghadha Parks is the world's largest saxaul botanical garden. For centuries millions of the trees, known by their Arabic name al ghadha, provided firewood, animal feed and respite from the desert heat for the Bedouin forefathers of modern Saudis.
The trees produce seeds only as they become drier. Current conditions have provided the seeds to plant 250,000 drought-resistant saxauls in the region.
Saxaul roots bind the desert sands, helping to constrain sandstorms.
The kingdom aims to plant 10 billion trees in the coming decades as part of an ambitious campaign unveiled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last year.
It is part of a green initiative aimed at reducing carbon emissions, pollution and land degradation.
Abdullah Abduljabar checks soil quality in the saxaul garden.
Majed Alsolaim, chief executive of Al Ghadha Parks, shows the Guinness World Record certificate for largest saxaul botanical garden held by the park.