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JEDDAH: The 27th session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission opened in Jeddah on Monday.

Held by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, in coordination with the Saudi National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, it will run until Oct. 1 and marks the NEFRC’s 70th anniversary.

With themes including integrated land restoration frameworks and solutions to drought and desertification, with a particular focus on forest fires, invasive species and green cities, it brings together government officials and representatives of a range of organizations involved with forest-related issues.

Participants from 25 countries will discuss forest and rangeland resilience, sustainable land use, women’s participation in non-wood forest products and pastoral value chains.

Mishal bin Abdulaziz Al-Harbi, director general of the general department of natural rangelands at NCVC, told Arab News the event embodied the Kingdom’s interest in preserving and developing vegetation cover.

“The Kingdom of �������� plays a key role in preserving and developing its vegetation cover through national initiatives like the Saudi Green Initiative and Vision 2030, which involve restoring degraded forests and mountains, planting billions of trees, establishing protected areas and royal reserves, and combating desertification,” he said.

Al-Harbi also highlighted the country’s major environmental challenges, from desertification to water shortages and environmental degradation.

“The challenges lie in two elements — climate and human,” he told Arab News. “The Kingdom is working to modernize rainmaking through the regional cloud seeding program and also to raise awareness in the local community of the importance of preserving the plant sector.”

Speaking about an initiative to enhance vegetation cover, he added: “The initiative to sow 80 tons of seeds is an important step to enhance vegetation cover and develop natural pastures, achieving environmental and economic benefits for society.”

During the opening ceremony, FAO ��������’s program director, Nizar Haddad, underlined the role the Kingdom was playing with NEFRC to combat desertification.

He said: “�������� has invested heavily in green and national initiatives. We really hope to transfer this experience to other countries. This session is vital and crucial because it highlights the value of forests, rangelands and it is also trying to present solutions from the region.”

He added he hoped the meetings would result in recommendations tailored to the region’s specificity, fragility and importance, contributing to innovative policies to mitigate the effects of climate change and develop forests and pastures while presenting initiatives with a direct impact on both the environment and local people.

This year’s session is preceded by a dedicated virtual “Youth Day” which provides young leaders with a platform to present solutions, exchange ideas and contribute to shaping the region’s green future.

RIYADH: Jeddah has been placed 74th globally in the Quality of Life Index for 2025, according to data from Numbeo that enables users to view, share, and compare information about cities worldwide.

It is the highest-ranked city in �������� and the second in the Arab world after Muscat, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

The achievement is attributed to continuous improvements in safety, healthcare, infrastructure development, the provision of modern public facilities, and the city’s commitment to transforming developmental ambitions into tangible realities that serve both residents and visitors.

Under the umbrella of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, and in line with the Quality of Life Program within Saudi Vision 2030, Jeddah Municipality has completed landmark projects that have helped to reshape the city’s urban landscape.

Among the most prominent projects are the coastal developments, which include five integrated waterfronts.

These areas feature walking and cycling paths, public squares, children’s play areas, and artistic sculptures, making the sea a part of the city’s daily life. Along the waterfronts, service facilities such as restaurants, cafes, rest areas, and piers allow visitors to explore the coastline up close.

“Jeddah has become more pedestrian-friendly, in my opinion. Also, there are now huge spaces across the city for outdoor activities,” resident Hala Hussain told Arab News.

She added that these outdoor activities are ideal during the cooler months of the year.

Hussain added: “The sea is part of our identity as Jeddawis, and seeing all these changes to accommodate our life near the sea makes us feel connected to nature.”

These projects include continuous beach maintenance programs which ensure cleanliness, protect the marine environment, and raise community awareness about the importance of preserving these spaces.

The municipality has also opened more than 445 parks spread across different neighborhoods, including specialized areas like Al-Saja Park, which features pathways and interconnected gardens and serves as a model for green space planning.

Prince Majid Park, the largest of its kind, spans over 130,000 sq. meters and boasts shaded walkways and family-friendly play areas, making it a gathering point for all generations.

Jeddah Municipality’s projects also focus on enhancing pedestrian pathways, installing modern lighting systems, and expanding sidewalks to increase comfort and safety.

These initiatives have encouraged residents to engage in physical activities and improved their daily mobility, while the municipality has also enhanced cleaning and maintenance programs. These include sidewalk and highway cleaning, removal of large amounts of waste, including unwanted concrete barriers, as well as the regulation of street vendors to ensure a healthy and safe urban environment.

The municipality has also invested in developing central areas by improving neighborhood centers, upgrading commercial and service facilities, and creating spaces for community activities. 

Jeddah has adopted innovative waste management programs, including waste sorting at source, converting waste into resources, and monitoring pollution, which has positively impacted air quality and environmental comfort within the city.

With its balanced approach to coastal, public facility, and community service projects, Jeddah has shown itself to be both an economic and tourist hub, and stands as a living example of a good quality of life, in which natural environments seamlessly merge with infrastructure and services to offer a comprehensive urban experience that meets the needs of both residents and visitors.