RIYADH: The third edition of the Saudi “Let’s Make It Green” afforestation campaign was launched on Thursday 100 km east of Riyadh in Saad National Park. The launch ceremony was led by Mansour Al-Mushaiti, deputy minister of environment, water and agriculture. The National Center for the Development of Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification organized the event, which included introductory pavilions, activities for children and a showcase of afforestation methods. The six-month campaign aims to develop vegetation sites, rehabilitate degraded land and restore plant diversity by motivating local communities to contribute to afforestation in vegetation sites and national parks. CEO of the National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification Dr. Khalid Al-Abdulqader called on the public and private sectors to take part in volunteer opportunities as part of the campaign. He highlighted the existence of voluntary fields in the sector, including seed dispersal, seedling production in national parks and campaigns to clean vegetation sites. The ambassadors of Kenya, Ivory Coast and Singapore, and representatives from the UK, Australia, Uruguay, Mexico, Japan and China Embassies in Saudi Arabia attended the inauguration ceremony, in addition to officials from International Fund for Agricultural Development, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Food and Agriculture Organization and UN Development Programme. Representatives from international companies, including FLORA and Mitsui, were also present. Dr. Amal Al-Daej, international relations and strategic partnership adviser at NCVC, told Arab News that the campaign is part of the center’s contribution to achieving the goals of the Green Saudi Initiative to plant 10 billion trees around the Kingdom. She added that the campaign also enhances the Kingdom’s contribution to developing vegetation cover and improving quality of life. Previous “Let’s Make It Green” campaigns led to the planting of about 20 million trees in more than 500 sites across the Kingdom, with the participation of several government and private agencies, the non-profit sector and about 70,000 volunteers.