Cairo: The National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) organized a workshop titled 'Protection and Development of Juniper Forests in Saudi Arabia,' with the aim of exploring and discussing ways to develop these vital ecosystems and safeguard their sustainability.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the workshop featured interactive sessions that addressed the current state of mountainous juniper forests and the challenges they face, particularly juniper diseases and the 'top dieback' phenomenon. Participants reviewed the underlying causes of these issues and associated control approaches.
The workshop also discussed key field experiences aimed at strengthening the juniper ecosystem and improving seed-based propagation and seedling quality to support rehabilitation projects.
In the same context, participants reviewed mechanisms for leveraging biotechnology to support juniper forest development and underscored the importance of local community engagement and cross-sector collaboration in forest protection. The workshop further examined the outcomes of the forest rehabilitation project and ways to benefit from rainwater harvesting techniques in Soudah forests, Saudi Arabia.
The release added that forests in Saudi Arabia are estimated to cover approximately 2.7 million hectares. Juniper is a principal component of the mountainous forest ecosystem, concentrated in the southwestern highlands of Saudi Arabia. It plays a pivotal role in maintaining ecological balance, enhancing biodiversity, limiting land degradation, increasing and improving soil fertility, reducing air pollution, mitigating wind intensity, and contributing to local climate regulation, while also supporting mountain communities.