Saudi Arabia Launches Rainwater Harvesting Project to Rehabilitate 620,000 Hectares of Land

The project will use rainwater harvesting techniques to improve vegetation cover in nine regions across the Kingdom. (SPA)
The project will use rainwater harvesting techniques to improve vegetation cover in nine regions across the Kingdom. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Launches Rainwater Harvesting Project to Rehabilitate 620,000 Hectares of Land

The project will use rainwater harvesting techniques to improve vegetation cover in nine regions across the Kingdom. (SPA)
The project will use rainwater harvesting techniques to improve vegetation cover in nine regions across the Kingdom. (SPA)

The National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) launched a major project to rehabilitate 620,000 hectares of degraded land in Saudi Arabia, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday.

The project will use rainwater harvesting techniques to improve vegetation cover in nine regions across the Kingdom.

It will involve studying the feasibility of implementing rehabilitation projects in three main climatic regions, continental, coastal, and mountainous, and identifying the target areas, the appropriate rainwater harvesting techniques, and the activities to be carried out in each region.

NCVC will also collect climate and hydrological data, study topographic and survey maps, and analyze satellite imagery. Field visits will be conducted to collect soil and water samples, carry out field measurements and laboratory analyzes, and identify the drainage network of the main basins in the study areas.

The project is expected to yield several outputs, such as uncovering the root causes and severity of land degradation, cataloging existing plant species and their numbers, recommending suitable plant types for restoration and their optimal propagation methods, calculating the seed or seedling needs for designated areas, identifying ideal planting times, establishing the desired ratio of plants not good for grazing to those good for grazing, and determining rainfall patterns, water requirements, and areas targeted for cultivation.

The project will also determine the most effective rainwater harvesting system for each site.

The project is part of NCVC's efforts to combat desertification and improve the environment in Saudi Arabia. It is aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to achieve sustainable development and protect the environment.

Rainwater harvesting is a technique used to collect and store rainwater for later use. The project will use a variety of rainwater harvesting techniques, including making use of dams, reservoirs, cisterns, and wells.



Crowd Control at Japan's Mount Fuji as Hiking Season Begins

Climbers gather on the first day of the climbing season at Fuji Yoshidaguchi Trail (Yoshida Route) at the fifth station on the slopes of Mount Fuji, in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan July 1, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato
Climbers gather on the first day of the climbing season at Fuji Yoshidaguchi Trail (Yoshida Route) at the fifth station on the slopes of Mount Fuji, in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan July 1, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato
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Crowd Control at Japan's Mount Fuji as Hiking Season Begins

Climbers gather on the first day of the climbing season at Fuji Yoshidaguchi Trail (Yoshida Route) at the fifth station on the slopes of Mount Fuji, in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan July 1, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato
Climbers gather on the first day of the climbing season at Fuji Yoshidaguchi Trail (Yoshida Route) at the fifth station on the slopes of Mount Fuji, in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan July 1, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato

Mount Fuji's summer climbing season began on Monday with new crowd control measures to combat overtourism on the Japanese volcano's most popular trail.

An entry fee of 2,000 yen ($13) plus an optional donation is being charged for those taking on the Yoshida Trail, and numbers are capped at 4,000 per day, Agence France Presse reported.

Online reservations have also been introduced this year by authorities concerned about safety and environmental damage on Japan's highest mountain, AFP said.

Record tourist crowds are flocking to Japan post-pandemic, with many wanting to see or scale Mount Fuji.

The mountain is covered in snow most of the year but draws more than 220,000 visitors each July-September climbing period.

Many trudge through the night to see the sunrise from the 3,776-meter summit.

Some sleep on the trail or start fires for heat, while others attempt to complete the hike without breaks, becoming sick or injured as a result.

The once-peaceful pilgrimage site has three other main routes that will remain free to climb.

But the Yoshida Trail -- accessed from Tokyo relatively easily -- is the preferred option for most holidaymakers, with around 60 percent of climbers choosing that route.