ULAANBAATAR — Saudi Arabia has received a United Nations Award for World Restoration Flagships, in recognition of the Kingdom’s sustained efforts to expand vegetation cover, restore degraded land, protect ecosystems and promote biodiversity. The award was presented during a high-level event held as part of the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17), hosted by Mongolia. The United Nations recognized Saudi Arabia, represented by its National Greening Program, as a global initiative in ecosystem restoration. The program contributed to the planting of more than 159 million trees, the restoration of nearly one million hectares of degraded land, and the reintroduction of threatened wildlife species. The National Greening Program also helped establish a comprehensive governance framework aimed at tackling drought, desertification, and climate change, in line with the environmental ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030. Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley said the Kingdom was working to restore degraded land, strengthen biodiversity and build ecosystems that are more resilient and sustainable. Restoring more than one million hectares of degraded land demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s commitment to turning environmental ambitions into tangible results, he said, adding that the effort was being carried out in partnership with local and international stakeholders to create a sustainable natural legacy for future generations. Chief Executive of the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification Ahmed Alayada said Saudi Arabia aims to restore more than 2.5 million hectares of land and plant 215 million trees by 2030. The targets form part of the Kingdom’s longer-term ambition to restore 40 million hectares and plant 10 billion trees. The restoration land program includes reforestation, natural regeneration, managed grazing, and the reintroduction of native wildlife, including Arabian oryx, gazelles, and ibex. It also involves rainwater harvesting and the use of treated wastewater to support restoration projects in water-scarce areas. The United Nations Environment Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations also recognized two other initiatives, in Brazil and the Sahel, alongside Saudi Arabia’s National Greening Program. The awards are part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and recognize major initiatives around the world that are delivering significant and measurable impacts in restoring ecosystems and land degradation.