The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture launched on Monday several initiatives to develop vegetation in the Kingdom, including a project to develop tree locations and grow forests. The aim is to plant 10 million trees and improve vegetation in 60,000 hectares by the end of 2020, said the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadle. This initiative will use local plants and renewable water sources. Fadle, meanwhile, revealed that the ministry has completed preparations for the national strategy on water, which includes a comprehensive assessment of environment components, such as forests, marine life, air quality and waste management. The strategy was prepared by following global practices adopted by several developed countries, said the minister. He made his remarks during the inauguration of a workshop on fighting deforestation and reaching innovative means to manage dry regions in Riyadh. Fadle continued that the ministry prepared the “green kingdom program” that aims at building the required cognitive foundation and executive framework to develop vegetation and combat deforestation. The minister said that his ministry completed a strategy on pastures, which aims at achieving sustainable management of pastoral resources. This includes introducing modern patterns in livestock breeding.