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
TT

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.



Billy Crystal, Mandy Moore Among Those who Lost Homes in Los Angeles Fires

A blackened US flag flies above a charred structure after the passage of the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, California, on January 8, 2025. (Photo by AGUSTIN PAULLIER / AFP)
A blackened US flag flies above a charred structure after the passage of the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, California, on January 8, 2025. (Photo by AGUSTIN PAULLIER / AFP)
TT

Billy Crystal, Mandy Moore Among Those who Lost Homes in Los Angeles Fires

A blackened US flag flies above a charred structure after the passage of the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, California, on January 8, 2025. (Photo by AGUSTIN PAULLIER / AFP)
A blackened US flag flies above a charred structure after the passage of the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, California, on January 8, 2025. (Photo by AGUSTIN PAULLIER / AFP)

Fires burning in and around Los Angeles have claimed the homes of numerous celebrities, including Billy Crystal, Mandy Moore and Paris Hilton and led to sweeping disruptions of entertainment events.
Three awards ceremonies planned for this weekend have been postponed. Next week's Oscar nominations have been delayed. And tens of thousands of Angelenos are displaced and awaiting word Thursday on whether their homes survived the flames — some of them the city's most famous denizens, The Associated Press reported.
More than 1,900 structures have been destroyed and the number is expected to increase. More than 130,000 people are also under evacuation orders in the metropolitan area, from the Pacific Coast inland to Pasadena, a number that continues to shift as new fires erupt.
Late Wednesday, a fire in the Hollywood Hills was scorching the hills near the famed Hollywood Bowl and Dolby Theatre, which is the home of the Academy Awards.
Here are how the fires are impacting celebrities and the Los Angeles entertainment industry:
Stars whose homes have burned in the fires Celebrities like Crystal and his wife, Janice, were sharing memories of the homes they lost.
The Crystals lost the home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood that they lived in for 45 years.
“Janice and I lived in our home since 1979. We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away. We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this,” the Crystals wrote in the statement.
Mandy Moore lost her home in the Altadena neighborhood roughly 30 miles east of the Palisades.
“Honestly, I’m in shock and feeling numb for all so many have lost, including my family. My children’s school is gone. Our favorite restaurants, leveled. So many friends and loved ones have lost everything too,” Moore wrote on Instagram in a post that included video of devastated streets in the foothill suburb.
“Our community is broken but we will be here to rebuild together. Sending love to all affected and on the front lines trying to get this under control,” Moore wrote.
Hilton posted a news video clip on Instagram and said it included footage of her destroyed home in Malibu. “This home was where we built so many precious memories. It’s where Phoenix took his first steps and where we dreamed of building a lifetime of memories with London,” she said, referencing her young children."
Elwes, the star of “The Princess Bride” and numerous other films, wrote on Instagram Wednesday that his family was safe but their home had burned in the coastal Palisades fire. “Sadly we did lose our home but we are grateful to have survived this truly devastating fire,” Elwes wrote.
The blazes have thrown Hollywood's carefully orchestrated awards season into disarray.
Awards ceremonies planned for this weekend have been postponed due to the fires. The AFI Awards, which were set to honor “Wicked,” “Anora” and other awards season contenders, had been scheduled for Friday.
The AARP Movies for Grownups Awards, which honor movies and television shows that resonate with older audiences, were set for Friday but have been postponed.
The Critics Choice Awards, originally scheduled for Sunday, have been postponed until Feb. 26.
Each of the shows feature projects that are looking for any advantage they can get in the Oscar race and were scheduled during the Academy Awards voting window.
The Oscar nominations are also being delayed two days to Jan. 19 and the film academy has extended the voting window to accommodate members affected by the fires.