RIYADH, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (6 December 2024) – In a significant step toward addressing desertification and advancing sustainable land management, the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) and the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Coinciding with Saudi Arabia’s hosting of UNCCD COP16, it underscores a shared commitment to leveraging agroforestry to stabilize land, improve food security, and restore degraded landscapes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, CIFOR-ICRAF CEO Éliane Ubalijoro highlighted the importance of this collaboration: “Trees are powerful tools in reversing desertification, stabilizing land, and creating conditions that support agriculture and biodiversity. Through this partnership, we aim to advance innovative solutions and create lasting impacts that resonate far beyond national borders.”
The MOU aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and supports the Kingdom’s initiatives, including the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative. These programs aim to combat desertification, enhance biodiversity, and promote sustainable agriculture. CIFOR-ICRAF, a global leader in agroforestry and sustainable land management, brings cutting-edge research and technical expertise to support these goals.
NCVC’s leadership emphasized the pivotal role of international collaborations in achieving a sustainable future, expressing enthusiasm for the partnership’s potential to drive impactful change and enhance resilience.
“Signing this Memorandum of Understanding with CIFOR-ICRAF marks a significant step in advancing our shared commitment to restoring degraded landscapes and combating desertification,” said Dr Khaled Alabdulkader, CEO of NCVC. “Together, we aim to enhance collaboration, extend knowledge, and implement sustainable solutions that align with our national restoration goals and global environmental priorities.”
For further information, please contact Azzura Lalani at a.lalani@cifor-icraf.org.
About CIFOR-ICRAF
The Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) harnesses the power of trees, forests and agroforestry landscapes to address the most pressing global challenges of our time – biodiversity loss, climate change, food security, livelihoods and inequity. CIFOR-ICRAF is a non-profit science institution that generates and applies evidence to meet today’s most pressing challenges, including energy insecurity and the climate and biodiversity crises. Over nearly 50 years, we have built vast knowledge on forests and trees outside of forests in agricultural landscapes (agroforestry). Using a multidisciplinary approach, we seek to improve lives and to protect and restore ecosystems. Our work focuses on innovative research, partnering for impact, and engaging with stakeholders on policies and practices to benefit people and the planet. Founded in 1993 and 1978, CIFOR and ICRAF are members of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources.
About the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC)
The NCVC’s work encompasses developing, protecting, and preserving vegetation cover areas, along with the rehabilitation of degraded lands, and restoring biodiversity in natural habitats. Moreover, the NCVC manages rangelands, forests, and national parks, ensuring sustainable usage, monitoring vegetation cover violations, combating illegal logging, and safeguarding natural resources and biodiversity. These initiatives align with NCVC’s vision to foster a flourishing, resilient, and sustainable environment, enhancing quality of life and promoting ecological diversity.
