Kenya set aside 13th November as Tree Planting Day and top government officials led Kenyans in different parts of the country to plant trees. The government has set a target to plant 15 billion trees in the next five years. The country has been facing unpredictable weather and climate conditions which calls for action to reverse the phenomenon before it gets out of hand.
Which Country?
Saudi Arabia’s land area is 95% arid or semi-arid and temperatures remain high year-round due to the Arabian desert that covers almost all parts of the country. The country has no permanent rivers and usually gets water from desalination. High-value natural resources available in the desert include oil, natural gas, phosphate, and sulfur. Global warming has been making living conditions harder due to distress caused by excess heat and severe cold during the night. Many deaths usually occur due to high temperatures.
Planting 10 billion trees across the country is equivalent to rehabilitating 40 million hectares of degraded land. Crown Prince Mohammed unveiled a campaign to reduce carbon emissions and combat pollution and land degradation by generating 50% of the country’s energy from renewables by 2030. He set to work with other Arab countries on Middle East Green Initiatives to make these countries green.
As part of the plan, 30% of the kingdom land would be designated as a protected forest area. All regions in the kingdom have set aside land where trees will be planted. The project that is costing billions of US dollars is expected to help in reverting the already hazardous effects being witnessed. Sandstorms cost the region $13 billion every year, and air pollution has shortened life expectancy by 18 months.
The initiative will help in restoring vital ecological functions, improve air quality, reduce sandstorms, and much more. It would contribute 4% of the global effort to reverse land degradation and 5% of the effort to plant 1 trillion trees……. See More