Desertification is closely linked to climate change. It is not just one of the catastrophic consequences of the crisis, but at the same time its effects exacerbate climate chaos, as 24% of current greenhouse gas emissions are due to it, besides soil erosion and all land exploiting activities. This percentage exceeds the transportation sector, which produces the largest percentage of global carbon emissions, according to estimates by the United Nations Economic Commission “UNECE”.
As emissions rise, the carbon crisis intensifies, climate and environmental pressures increase, and desertification creeps into new lands around the world. It is a closed circle for which everyone pays the price, and perhaps “afforestation” represents the key to a safe exit from this circle.
التشجير
Digital afforestation
Trees are one of the most effective natural solutions, directly contributing to climate change mitigation, as plants and soil store 3 times more carbon than the atmosphere, while photosynthesis re-consumes 240 giga-tons of carbon annually.
Vegetation stabilizes 80% of the soil, preventing erosion and dust storms. Trees also produce oxygen and reduce pollution and dust thus improving air quality. In addition, trees provide indirect environmental benefits such as reducing flood risks.
But, without strategic planning and good coordination of afforestation operations, tree planting and degraded land restoration efforts can fail to achieve their goals, and this is where digital afforestation roles emerge.
According to the United Nations Development Program, “digital afforestation” is a term often used in the fields of carbon offsetting and environmental conservation. It refers to the use of technology to enhance traditional tree planting initiatives, and includes the use of digital tools to manage and monitor afforestation projects, and ensure their effectiveness and transparency.
التشجير
Through digital afforestation initiatives, the entity responsible for the initiative identifies the types of trees suitable for the climate of the area to be afforestated and the appropriate locations for planting. These details are uploaded to one of the digital platforms specialized in the field of agriculture and afforestation. After announcing the initiative, citizens enter the platform and choose their preferred type of tree, specify the location, and make the necessary payments online. Then, the initiative management undertakes planting the selected trees on behalf of the citizens.
The main benefits of digital afforestation
Digital afforestation enhances environmental sustainability and the preservation of all resources, whether water or material, through developing methods of management, monitoring and data verification. Satellite images enable tracking of tree growth rates and health, with fixed digital records of project details, ensuring transparency, periodic assessments, rationalization of natural resources consumption, and accurate determination of carbon balances by controlling the amount of carbon captured by planted trees.
Making data on afforestation projects and initiatives and periodic reports available online ensures compliance with environmental standards, increases trust between citizens and project managers, and at the community level enhances social and environmental responsibility, raises green awareness and spreads the culture of afforestation.
التشجير
In terms of cost, digital afforestation improves efficiency and effectiveness because it enables decision-making based on data and detailed reports, ensures optimization of afforestation sites, selection of appropriate species and maintenance strategies. In addition, the adoption of digital tools reduces routine administrative tasks and thus lowers overall costs.
The selection of tree species by project and initiative managers also prioritizes native species to support local ecosystems, with a focus on areas of high biodiversity value and ecosystem restoration.
Digital afforestation in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Vision 2030 pays great attention to protecting the environment in general and confronting land degradation in particular. The Kingdom has launched many effective initiatives, both regional and national, including the Saudi Green Initiative, which is an ambitious national initiative that includes planting 10 billion trees across the Kingdom and rehabilitating 40 million hectares of degraded land, in addition to increasing the percentage of nature reserves to 30% of the Kingdom’s total land and sea area. The efforts made have succeeded in planting about 50 million trees since 2021, according to the official website of the Saudi Green Initiative.
Digital afforestation plays a leading role in providing the opportunity for all citizens to participate in agriculture digitally, with the aim of increasing and improving the vegetation cover, expanding the green area, and protecting the environment.
التشجير
Digital afforestation initiatives in the Kingdom
There are several initiatives of digital afforestation, including the Makkah Municipality initiative, in cooperation with the “Nabatak” platform, which was launched by the Kingdom at the beginning of September 2024.
The initiative seeks to cover Makkah Al-Mukarramah and the holy sites with trees that are planted in large quantities within short periods, in addition to enhancing the spirit of citizenship in society by caring for environmental issues, contributing to afforestation, and spreading the green culture.
The Secretariat of the Holy Capital has identified suitable places for planting and the types of trees most suitable for the region’s climate, while “Nabatak” is working to upload the sites designated for planting through its digital platform and make them available to everyone for community participation.
There is the digital afforestation initiative launched at the end of last year by the Eastern Province Municipality in cooperation with Saudi Aramco and the Saudi Zero Neutrality Platform. The initiative aims to plant 35,000 trees in a smart way, thus reducing the equivalent of 441 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
The initiative includes the adoption of smart technologies in calculating the environmental impact and the expected carbon reduction rate for each tree. The initiative also focuses on community interaction, so it has made it possible to name each tree after the citizen who planted it.
التشجير
The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, which seeks to develop, protect and rehabilitate vegetation sites around the Kingdom, is leading the “Let’s Make It Green” campaign through its digital platform to rehabilitate degraded sites in the Kingdom, encourage citizens and community participation to plant trees, and raise environmental awareness in order to contribute to efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.
