Side event KAUST-NCVC at COP16: Effectively monitoring land degradation in hyper-arid areas

Location: MET-08 in the Blue Zone

Date/time: Monday 9th December 2024, 18:00–19:30

Side event organized by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology & National Center for Vegetation Cover and Desertification Control

 

Summary

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, recognized as one of the countries most affected by desertification, has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to combating the pressing environmental challenge of land degradation and restoration. The Kingdom’s efforts are showcased through numerous initiatives, including the Saudi Green Initiative, the Green Riyadh Project, and the Middle East Green Initiative, which collectively aim to restore balance to its unique ecosystems.

To focus activities in support of this effort, Saudi Arabia recently hosted the "Land Degradation Monitoring in Hyper-arid Areas Workshop” from August 26th to 28th, 2024. This pivotal event was co-organized by the National Center for Vegetation Cover (NCVC) and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA), with the strong support of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Saudi Arabia. The workshop brought together experts and stakeholders to address a range of topics, including the dynamics of land productivity and the trends in soil organic carbon stocks in hyper-arid environments, a critical issue for the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia’s leadership and its hosting of this workshop underscores the Kingdom’s dedication to sustainable development and environmental conservation. The NCVC, established to lead the fight against desertification, plays a vital role in implementing strategies to rehabilitate vegetation cover, protect endangered plant species, and to establish and effectively manage national parks. The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 aligns with these efforts, emphasizing the importance of environmental sustainability and the need for comprehensive, integrated approaches to land management. In alignment with these objectives, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology has established itself not only as a world-class research university but also as a key innovation partner that support the work of Saudi governmental agencies and enterprises by providing science-based solutions to solve the main challenges of the Kingdom and to contribute to achieve Vision 2030. Among its faculty, KAUST hosts multiple leading experts on dryland ecology and the monitoring of dryland ecosystems.

As a follow-up of the abovementioned workshop, this side will discuss the need for improved ground-based monitoring and remote sensing approaches to accurately characterize land degradation neutrality (LDN) in hyper-arid regions, and highlight the importance of national and international collaboration for doing so. It will provide insight on current research efforts and gaps that need to be addressed to effectively monitor LDN indicators in hyper-arid areas. 

 

Convenors

Prof. Fernando T. Maestre, King Abdulah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia

Eng. Ahmad Yahya Alneami, National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combat Desertification (NCVC), Saudi Arabia.

Speakers

Prof. Fernando T. Maestre, KAUST

Eng. Ahmad Yahya Alneami, General Manager of General Directorate of Technology and Digital Transformation, NCVC

Prof. Matthew McCabe, KAUST

Eng. Saleh Abdullah Aldhifallah, General Manager of General Directorate of Desertification, NCVC.

Dr. Antonio Di Gregorio, Geospatial Expert, NCVC.

Program

18:00 – 18.05 am. Fernando T. Maestre. Welcome and introduction to the event

18:05 – 18.20. Fernando T. Maestre. “On the need to establish a national and global monitoring network of hyper-arid ecosystems” (10’ presentation + 5’ Q&A)

18:20 – 18.35. Ahmad Yahya Alneami. “NCVC Geoportal: A step towards effective geospatial data integration and dissemination” (10’ presentation + 5’ Q&A)

18:35 – 18.50. Matthew McCabe. “Harnessing remote sensing for ecosystem monitoring and protection in Saudi Arabia” (10’ presentation + 5’ Q&A)

18:50 – 19.05. Antonio Di Gregorio “Standardizing the landcover/land use mapping/monitoring in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” (10’ presentation + 5’ Q&A)

19:05 – 19:20. Saleh Abdullah Aldhifallah “Approaches to Monitor Land Degradation in Hyper Arid Areas” (10’ presentation + 5’ Q&A)

19:20 – 19:30. Panel discussion. Moderated by Prof. Fernando T. Maestre, KAUST.