UN FAO Near East forestry talks held in Jeddah

JEDDAH: The 27th session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission opened in Jeddah on Monday.

Held by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, in coordination with the Saudi National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, it will run until Oct. 1 and marks the NEFRC’s 70th anniversary.

With themes including integrated land restoration frameworks and solutions to drought and desertification, with a particular focus on forest fires, invasive species and green cities, it brings together government officials and representatives of a range of organizations involved with forest-related issues.

Participants from 25 countries will discuss forest and rangeland resilience, sustainable land use, women’s participation in non-wood forest products and pastoral value chains.

Mishal bin Abdulaziz Al-Harbi, director general of the general department of natural rangelands at NCVC, told Arab News the event embodied the Kingdom’s interest in preserving and developing vegetation cover.