Saudi Arabia will plant 10 billion trees to green the desert

Saudi Arabia is investing in a green initiative to transform its deserts but faces challenges in turning the ambitious project into a climate solution.

A professor at KAUST checks crops at an experimental farm. (Photo: AFP)

As part of its Green Middle East Initiative , Saudi Arabia aims to plant 10 billion trees and reclaim more than 74 million hectares of land. To achieve this ambitious goal, effective management of land and water resources is essential. Himanshu Mishra, an environmental science and engineering expert at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), said his team has developed a product that can transform water-based deserts into fertile soil. The carbon-rich compost made from chicken manure, which is abundant in Saudi Arabia, is far more effective than conventional fertilizer, according to AFP .

Mishra explains that the product acts like a sponge to retain nutrients and water, while also promoting the microbial biodiversity that plants need to thrive. His experimental farm is filled with greenery using the new fertilizer.

On a vast desert site north of Jeddah, another project uses microorganisms to reduce the energy costs of wastewater treatment. The treatment facility seeks to filter wastewater in an energy-efficient way, according to manager Peiying Hong of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. The process relies on microorganisms to convert carbon into methane gas, which is collected and used to produce energy. The filtered water from the process can be used to grow microalgae to feed livestock and irrigate crops to combat desertification. The recycled water could be a boon for a desert country with extremely limited water resources.

Despite the potential, deploying such systems at a regional or national scale requires financial backing and commitment from regulators. But John Robinson, an investor and partner at Mazarine Ventures, said raising money for these types of startups is extremely difficult, although some have been able to attract private investors.

Meanwhile, in addition to combating desertification, Saudi Arabia is also focusing on carbon capture technology . But critics say the effort is just a publicity stunt to allow the country to continue investing in fossil fuels.