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MAKKAH: The Makkah municipality launched the Makkah Winter initiative on Tuesday to turn the city’s winter season into a vibrant, sustainable tourism and entertainment experience.

The initiative will include seasonal destinations that enhance quality of life, support small businesses and improve the city’s urban landscape, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Leveraging Makkah’s pleasant winter climate, it will create safe, well-managed sites for residents and visitors, stimulating local commerce and tourism while supporting entrepreneurs in hospitality, cafes and entertainment.

The program also features community activities to engage neighborhoods, attract tourists and enhance public spaces to meet high living standards, the SPA reported.

The municipality said that the initiative aligned with its broader efforts to organize tourism seasons and balance investment, community engagement and Makkah’s cultural identity.

RIYADH: ��������’s National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification is participating in the Country-Led Initiative “Forest Fires: Preparedness and Innovative Technologies” in Istanbul, Turkiye, in cooperation with the UN Forum on Forests Secretariat.

The initiative, which began on Oct. 20 and ends on Wednesday, focuses on sharing expertise, developing wildfire management policies, promoting sustainable forest practices, and using modern technologies to address climate change.

The event includes high-level dialogue, sessions on international best practices, and a field visit to observe practical applications in forest and wildfire management, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. 

��������’s delegation attended the opening session, held bilateral meetings with countries and international organizations, reviewed innovative wildfire response technologies, and explored ways to localize them in the Kingdom.

Mutlaq Abu Athnain, deputy CEO of the center, reaffirmed ��������’s commitment to international cooperation. 

He highlighted efforts to develop forests, restore degraded areas, and protect them from fires, stressing the importance of regional and global collaboration to safeguard natural resources.

The center’s participation underscores its dedication to protecting forests, enhancing sustainability, and advancing policies and capacities to address environmental risks, the SPA reported.