As Saudi Arabia continues to monitor and respond to environmental incidents, the focus remains on preserving the gains made in tree cover and preventing future losses that could impact the region's sustainability and air quality.
Saudi Arabia has recently experienced a fire incident in the Eastern Province, raising concerns about the country's environmental health. Despite the vast land area of approximately 191.60 million hectares, the tree cover in Saudi Arabia is minimal, constituting just around 0.00% of the total land area. Over the years, the country has seen negligible tree cover loss, maintaining a stable tree cover of 16,036 hectares and even achieving a net gain of about 7,599 hectares. This gain represents an increase of approximately 47.38% in tree cover, which is a positive sign for the region's ecological balance.
The latest incident, however, underscores the ongoing risks to these critical green spaces. Although the number of incidents is low, with just one reported fire on November 13, 2024, the potential for damage to the limited tree cover is significant. The country's history of emissions and environmental disturbances, despite the absence of significant drivers such as shifting agriculture, forestry, wildfires, or urbanization, suggests a need for continued vigilance to protect and enhance these vital ecological assets.
Explore country profileAs Saudi Arabia continues to monitor and respond to environmental incidents, the focus remains on preserving the gains made in tree cover and preventing future losses that could impact the region's sustainability and air quality.
