RIYADH: The National Center for Vegetation and Combating Desertification has signed a two-year contract with one of the national afforestation companies in the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve to plant 400,000 local tree seedlings. The project, which also includes irrigation works, is part of the MoU signed with the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority to develop vegetation cover in the reserve. Dr. Khaled Al-Abdulqader, CEO of the center, signed the deal as a part of broader plans to increase green spaces across the Kingdom. The center is working to preserve natural reserves, contain desertification and restore biodiversity in natural environments, and improve quality of life in line with the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative. The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve also announced controls on grazing, entry, hunting and woodcutting from Feb. 1. The reserve is also working to keep up with the latest international technologies and innovations linked to irrigation and seed disposal processes while working to adopt factors that serve the environment and guarantee sustainability in plant cultivation and afforestation techniques.