In brief
On November 4 2026, the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification launched a seed‑dispersal initiative in Bisha Governorate, targeting 60,000 hectares of rangeland with native forage seeds such as ramth and arfaj and rain‑water capture. The effort, part of the National Afforestation Season, seeks to increase vegetation density, preserve biodiversity, and support the Saudi Green Initiative and Vision 2030. It involved government agencies, educational institutions, and volunteers.
On November 4 2026, the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) began a seed‑dispersal program in Bisha Governorate, aiming to restore 60,000 hectares of rangeland to combat desertification and enhance biodiversity, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The initiative was carried out by the NCVC’s Aseer Region branch, which involved the systematic dispersal of native forage plant seeds across the target area. NCVC specified that the main species for seed dispersal would be ramth and arfaj, selected for their suitability to the local environment and for their capacity to thrive in arid conditions.
In addition to seed dispersal, the program incorporated rainwater capture techniques to augment soil moisture and improve germination rates, a strategy highlighted by the agency as essential for sustaining newly planted vegetation in the semi‑arid climate of Bisha.
The project, launched under this year’s National Afforestation Season with the theme “A Generation That Plants for a Thriving Nation,” aimed to raise vegetation cover density, preserve local wildlife habitats, reduce land degradation, and fight the spread of deserts, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Program Structure and Participation
Alongside NCVC staff, several government agencies, educational institutions, and volunteer groups collaborated on the fieldwork. The Saudi Press Agency noted that the volunteers’ involvement was a key component, encouraging community stewardship of the rangeland restoration effort.
NCVC’s approach combined seed spraying with physical aid to improve soil structure, leveraging lessons from previous rangeland rehabilitation projects. The agency emphasized that this integrated method would yield more resilient plant communities capable of withstanding variable climatic conditions.
As part of the broader Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) and Saudi Vision 2030 ambitions, the initiative intends to create sustainable green spaces that support ecological balance, mitigate carbon emissions, and offer future generations healthier landscapes, the press agency added.
The initiative’s alignment with SGI goals was underscored by the agency’s statement that the project’s target of 60,000 hectares falls within the national strategy to expand green coverage and restore ecological function across the kingdom.
45,000 of the 60,000 hectares targeted for seed dispersal were identified as severely degraded rangelands, while the remaining 15,000 hectares comprised mildly degraded or transitional zones where the native species could be introduced to boost biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
Future monitoring plans, as outlined by NCVC, will involve periodic satellite imagery analysis and on‑ground surveys to assess vegetation cover growth, species survival rates, and soil health indicators over the next five years.
Analysts point out that desertification remains a significant challenge in the western provinces of Saudi Arabia, where climate variability and overgrazing have historically weakened rangeland ecosystems. The NCVC’s initiative represents a targeted effort to reverse that trend by leveraging native species adapted to the harsh environment.
NCVC’s ongoing portfolio of projects includes large‑scale afforestation drives, watershed management, and community forestry programs across the kingdom. The experience gained from these initiatives provides a foundation for the current seed‑dispersal campaign’s expected success.
In summary, the Saudi Press Agency's coverage indicates that NCVC’s launch of a seed‑dispersal initiative in Bisha Governorate is designed to rehabilitate 60,000 hectares of rangeland, increase native vegetation cover, preserve biodiversity, and align with national environmental agendas, with active participation from government, educational, and volunteer groups.
