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Saudi Royal Reserves Plant Millions of Trees, Seedlings in Conjunction with COP16

The achievements fall in conjunction with the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the Saudi Green Initiative Forum in Riyadh - SPA
The achievements fall in conjunction with the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the Saudi Green Initiative Forum in Riyadh - SPA
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Saudi Royal Reserves Plant Millions of Trees, Seedlings in Conjunction with COP16

The achievements fall in conjunction with the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the Saudi Green Initiative Forum in Riyadh - SPA
The achievements fall in conjunction with the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the Saudi Green Initiative Forum in Riyadh - SPA

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Nature Reserve Development Authority (KSRNR) has reached a new strategic achievement, having planted more than 2,400,000 seedlings, rehabilitated 700,000 hectares, removed 119 tons of hazardous waste, and scattered 4 tons of local seeds in KSRNR, in conjunction with the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the Saudi Green Initiative Forum in Riyadh.
This achievement aligns with the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which prioritizes environmental sustainability and enhanced efforts to combat desertification, and contributes to achieving the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative.
This step reflects the authority's commitment to achieving its environmental goals, including through using modern technologies and employing AI in the afforestation process, SPA reported.

Meanwhile, the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority has also achieved a significant milestone, having planted over 1.5 million trees and shrubs in the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve and King Khalid Royal Reserve.
This initiative aligns with the Saudi Vision 2030 as well, which places environmental sustainability at its core, and supports efforts to combat desertification, rehabilitate ecosystems, and contribute to the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative.
The project entails planting a variety of native tree and shrub species, such as Acacia gerrardii, Acacia seyal, Ziziphus spina-christi (sidr), calligonum (arta), panicgrass (thumam), Acacia tortilis (samr), Rhanterium epapposum (arfaj), and caper bush (shafallah), in order to restore biodiversity and improve natural habitats for wildlife.
This initiative reflects the authority’s commitment to achieving its environmental goals through innovative and sustainable solutions based on the best global practices. Modern technologies, including the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) for vegetation analysis, AI to optimize planting processes, and identifying saplings through drone imagery, are used to carry out the project.
The authority is dedicated to developing sustainable projects that enhance biodiversity and protect wildlife, contributing to a balanced and sustainable environmental future.

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Gulf States Unveil Efforts to Develop AI Tools to Combat Fake News

Dr. Preslav Nakov (LinkedIn)
Dr. Preslav Nakov (LinkedIn)
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Gulf States Unveil Efforts to Develop AI Tools to Combat Fake News

Dr. Preslav Nakov (LinkedIn)
Dr. Preslav Nakov (LinkedIn)

One of the significant challenges facing researchers in artificial intelligence (AI) development is ensuring objectivity amid the rapid and ever-increasing flow of information online. With numerous tools now available to disseminate diverse data and information, it has become increasingly difficult for audiences to distinguish between truth and propaganda on one hand and between objective journalism and biased framing on the other.
This has underscored the growing importance of technologies designed to analyze, detect, and filter vast amounts of data. These tools aim to curb the spread of misinformation, combat rumors and fake news, and make the internet a safer space for sharing and accessing accurate information.
Fake news is defined as media content created and published with the intent to mislead or manipulate public opinion, often for political, economic, or social purposes. The methods for creating fake news range from simple manipulation of facts to sophisticated techniques like deepfakes, further complicating efforts to identify them.
In Abu Dhabi, Dr. Preslav Nakov, a professor and chair of Natural Language Processing at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, is leading innovative efforts to develop AI technologies, particularly in analyzing the methods used in media to influence public opinion.
Among his most notable contributions is the development of FRAPPE, an interactive tool for global news analysis. FRAPPE provides comprehensive insights into the persuasive and rhetorical techniques employed in news articles, enabling users to gain a deeper understanding of diverse media contexts. According to Nakov, FRAPPE helps users identify how news is framed and presented in different countries, offering a clearer perspective on divergent media narratives.
FRAPPE’s capabilities also extend to analyzing media framing methods. Nakov explains that the tool allows users to compare how different media outlets address specific issues. For instance, one outlet in a particular country might emphasize the economic implications of climate change, while another focuses on its political or social dimensions.
AI is the cornerstone of FRAPPE’s functionality, enabling the tool to analyze complex linguistic patterns that influence readers’ opinions.
In a discussion with Asharq Al-Awsat, Nakov highlighted the tool’s capabilities, noting that AI in FRAPPE is fundamental to analyzing, classifying, and detecting intricate linguistic patterns that shape readers’ perceptions and emotions. He explained that the application uses AI to identify propaganda and persuasion techniques such as insults, fear-based language, bullying, exaggeration, and repetition. The system has been trained to recognize 23 subtle techniques often embedded in real-world media content.
Ensuring objectivity and reducing bias are among the main challenges in developing AI tools like FRAPPE. Nakov explains that FRAPPE focuses on analyzing the language used in articles rather than evaluating their accuracy or political stance.
To date, FRAPPE has analyzed over two million articles on topics such as the Russia-Ukraine war and climate change. The tool currently supports content analysis in 100 languages, with plans to expand its capabilities to additional languages and enhance the accuracy of its analyses, further strengthening its ability to comprehend global media patterns.