Eng. Abdulrahman Alfadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Chairman of the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, today launched the first phase of the sustainable agricultural parks initiative at the ministry's headquarters in Riyadh.

Under the initiative, national park land with sparse or degraded vegetation that lies close to reclaimed water sources will be planted with native fruit-bearing species that bring real economic returns.

Alfadley also oversaw the signing of seven investment contracts for sustainable agricultural parks, which are expected to add a cumulative SAR6 billion to GDP over 15 years. The contracts run for up to 15 years, cover the Madinah, Tabuk and Makkah regions and are projected to create more than 700 direct jobs.

The center said the initiative seeks a sustainable economic model built with the private sector, supporting the Saudi Green Initiative, eco-tourism, quality of life and local communities. It also aims to increase the reuse of treated water and ease pressure on other water resources.