Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
One million hectares restored. Saudi Arabia’s latest milestone demonstrates that land restoration at scale is not only necessary — it is within our reach.
As UNCCD Executive Secretary Dr. Yasmine Fouad notes, this achievement shows that with the right policies, science and commitment, countries can turn environmental challenges into resilience and growth.
As drought intensifies, water stress grows and land degradation tightens its grip, Saudi Arabia’s achievement in bringing degraded land back to life matters far beyond one country. It provides clear evidence that even in some of the world’s most water-scarce environments, restoration can be delivered at scale.
This is the level of ambition the world needs to meet global goals: reduce degraded land by 50 per cent by 2040 and restore one billion hectares by 2030. Land restoration strengthens the resilience of communities across ecosystems, helping protect the stability, security and livelihoods of those most vulnerable to extreme weather and climate shocks.
As a G20 Global Land Initiative country, Saudi Arabia is leading by example, showing how commitments can translate into measurable progress on the ground.
This ambition, matched by action at scale, is the compass that guides us on the path from UNCCD COP16 under Saudi Arabia’s leadership to UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia this August.
One million hectares restored. Saudi Arabia’s latest milestone demonstrates that land restoration at scale is not only necessary — it is within our reach.
As UNCCD Executive Secretary Dr. Yasmine Fouad notes, this achievement shows that with the right policies, science and commitment, countries can turn environmental challenges into resilience and growth.
As drought intensifies, water stress grows and land degradation tightens its grip, Saudi Arabia’s achievement in bringing degraded land back to life matters far beyond one country. It provides clear evidence that even in some of the world’s most water-scarce environments, restoration can be delivered at scale.
This is the level of ambition the world needs to meet global goals: reduce degraded land by 50 per cent by 2040 and restore one billion hectares by 2030. Land restoration strengthens the resilience of communities across ecosystems, helping protect the stability, security and livelihoods of those most vulnerable to extreme weather and climate shocks.
As a G20 Global Land Initiative country, Saudi Arabia is leading by example, showing how commitments can translate into measurable progress on the ground.
This ambition, matched by action at scale, is the compass that guides us on the path from UNCCD COP16 under Saudi Arabia’s leadership to UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia this August.
