City: | Riyadh |
Country: | Saudi Arabia |
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The Green Riyadh Programme aims to plant 7.5 million trees all over Riyadh City, as well as increase the vegetation cover to 9.1% of Riyadh’s area, and raise the per capita green area from 1.7 square metres to 28 square metres, equivalent to 16 times what it is now. The Programme also seeks to improve the urban environment of Riyadh through afforestation in residential neighbourhoods.
The Green Riyadh Programme implements a treated water irrigation network with a total length of 1,350 km to irrigate 7.5 million trees. The network will convey 2.7 million cubic metres per day of treated water from the treatment stations to the vegetation areas covering 100% of water needs.
The diametres of the main networks range from 1.2 to 2.4 metres, indicating that there are also sub-networks that connect all neighbourhoods of Riyadh.
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Riyadh is the largest city in the Arabian Peninsula
7.5 million trees are planned within the Green Riyadh Programme. All these plants will be irrigated by a network using solely recycled wastewater, which is currently wasted.
7.5 million new trees will multiply the per capita share of green space. All these plants will be irrigated by a network using only recycled wastewater, which is currently disposed of in desert areas. 99 tree species suitable for ’Riyadh’s environment have been selected for this project.
The project will improve air quality (sequestrate 1,700 tons of PM10, 700,00 tons of GHG etc.). Additionally, it will improve thermal comfort (up to 15 °C of mean radiant temperature under tree canopies).
Consequently, these actions will encourage Riyadh’s citizens to adopt a healthy lifestyle and ultimately transform Riyadh into one of the world’s leading cities, following the strategic goals of the ’Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
The new treated Irrigation Network will expand all across the metropolitan area with a total length of 1350 kilometres. It will convey 2.7 million cubic metres of treated water daily from the treatment stations to the vegetation areas covering 100% of the irrigation needs.
The diameter of the pipes used in the network range from 1.2 -2.4 metres. A horizontal drilling machine is to be used underneath the main streets so that work can continue without affecting city life.
The Treated Water Irrigation Network is going to cover the whole metropolitan area. The pipelines are being installed under the road network. Building such a network and planning for efficient and sustainable use requires mapping of all the water needs of the city with a 20 year horizon. Extensive stakeholder engagement is required for an intervention of this scale.
A committee composed of relevant government agencies and private entities was established to organise the implementation process.
Riyadh was once known as the “Garden City”; however, urban sprawl has changed the city’s character. The city has developed significant green infrastructure projects, but the city’s vegetation and canopy cover currently do not exceed 1.51% and 0.41%, respectively. The project aims to increase the green cover in Riyadh from 1.5% to 9.1% between now and 2030. The objectives of the Green Riyadh Programme include the comprehensive urban, economic, social and cultural development of Riyadh, handling the issues related to environmental management and protection, and providing the city with the necessary public services and utilities.
Water resources are scarce in Riyadh. This has severe implications for citizens, businesses, and nature. The Green Riyadh Programme aims to address this issue by planting 7.5 million trees and implementing various greening, infrastructure, and enabler projects.
These initiatives recognise the serious barrier of water scarcity and aim to create a better future for the city.
By improving the local ecosystem, increasing biodiversity, and employing efficient irrigation techniques, the Programme strives to enhance the lives of the citizens, support economic growth, and ensure a sustainable and greener Riyadh.
The Green Riyadh initiative is being implemented through a comprehensive strategic plan that includes the following key components:
This will be achieved through a variety of green projects, including planting in public parks and gardens, along streets and roads, and on school and university campuses. The initiative is also aiming to establish new green spaces in the city, such as forests and wetlands.
The feasibility of the Green Riyadh initiative is supported by a number of factors:
The Green Riyadh initiative is still in progress, but it has already made significant advancements in transforming the city into a more sustainable and liveable place. The initiative is expected to have a number of positive benefits for the city, including improved air quality, reduced temperatures and increased access to green space.
There is strong evidence of stakeholder support for the Green Riyadh initiative. This support comes from a variety of sources, including the government, private sector and civil society.
Saudi government: The Saudi government is the primary stakeholder in the Green Riyadh initiative. It has committed significant financial resources and political support to the initiative. It has also established a number of policies/regulations to support the initiative, such as requiring new developments to include green spaces.
Private sector: The private sector is also a key stakeholder. Private companies are supporting the initiative through financial contributions, in-kind donations and volunteerism.
Civil society: Civil society organisations are also playing a role in supporting the Green Riyadh initiative. Many NGOs are working to educate the public about the importance of environmental sustainability and to promote the initiative. For example, the Green Riyadh Environmental Society is working to plant trees and shrubs in Riyadh and to raise awareness of the importance of environmental protection.
Here are some specific examples of stakeholder support for the Green Riyadh initiative:
The Green Riyadh initiative has been designed and implemented to ensure that long-term needs for management and maintenance are efficient, effective, and can be provided by the city in the following ways:
The following protocols are in place to facilitate monitoring of results for the Green Riyadh initiative:
Data collection: The Green Riyadh initiative is collecting a wide range of data to monitor results.
This data includes information on the number and type of trees and shrubs planted, the amount of water used to irrigate green spaces, and the quality of the air and water in the city. The data is being collected through a variety of methods, including satellite imagery, ground surveys, and citizen science projects.
Data analysis: The Green Riyadh initiative is using a variety of data analysis techniques to analyse the data that is being collected. This analysis is helping the initiative to track progress on its goals and to identify areas where improvement is needed.
Reporting: The Green Riyadh initiative is regularly reporting on the results of the initiative to the public and to stakeholders. This reporting is helping to keep the public informed about the progress of the initiative and to ensure that the initiative is on track to meet its goals.
The Green Riyadh initiative’s monitoring protocols are essential to the success of the initiative. By tracking progress and identifying areas where improvement is needed, the initiative is able to make adjustments as needed and to ensure that it is on track to meet its goals.
Monitoring of impact enhances the ability to demonstrate progress in the following ways:
Below are some specific examples of how monitoring impact and measurable progress are enabling Riyadh to expand greening ambitions:
The Green Riyadh initiative has achieved a number of significant milestones since its launch in 2019, including:
The initiative is measuring the impact through a combination of quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data includes metrics such as the number of trees and shrubs planted, the amount of water used to irrigate green spaces, and the quality of air and water in the city. Qualitative data includes surveys, interviews and focus groups to collect feedback from residents and stakeholders.
The initiative is reporting on its progress through a variety of channels, including its website, social media and annual reports. The initiative’s website includes a dashboard that tracks key performance indicators such as the number of trees and shrubs planted, the amount of water used to irrigate green spaces, and the quality of the air and water in the city. The initiative’s social media accounts are used to share updates on its progress and to engage with residents and stakeholders. The initiative’s annual reports provide a comprehensive overview of the initiative’s progress and impact.
The initiative’s commitment to measuring and reporting on its impact is essential to its success. By tracking progress and demonstrating success, the initiative is able to attract new resources and inspire others to follow suit.
The Green Riyadh initiative is continuously adapting in a number of ways, including:
Changes in response to monitoring of progress include:
External stakeholders have played a number of important roles in contributing to the success of the Green Riyadh initiative. For example:
The Green Riyadh initiative has had a ripple effect beyond the scope of the initiative itself in a number of ways, including:
The Green Riyadh initiative has also included transfer of knowledge as part of its design. For example, the project team has worked with international experts to learn about best practises for urban greening. They have also partnered with local universities and research institutions to conduct research on the environmental and social benefits of trees.
Some of the unexpected changes that have occurred due to the progress of the Green Riyadh initiative include:
Overall, the Green Riyadh initiative has had a positive ripple effect beyond the scope of the initiative itself. It has changed the way that the city and its partners work with plants, raised awareness of the importance of trees, and led to the development of new green technologies.
Visiting delegations: Delegations from other cities, such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Beijing, have visited Riyadh to learn more about the Green Riyadh initiative.
Requests for information: The project team has received a number of requests for information about the Green Riyadh initiative from other cities around the world.
Invitations to speak at conferences: The project team has been invited to speak at conferences about the Green Riyadh initiative, such as the World Urban Forum and the Climate Action Summit.
Other cities can customise the Green Riyadh initiative to their own circumstances in a number of ways. For example, cities in different climates may need to plant different types of trees. Cities with limited land space may need to focus on developing vertical green spaces, such as green roofs and living walls. And cities with limited financial resources may need to focus on low-cost greening initiatives, such as planting street trees and creating community gardens.
The Green Riyadh initiative has the potential to inspire other cities to raise their own urban greening ambitions. The project has shown that it is possible to create a more sustainable and liveable city, even in a challenging environment. Other cities can learn from the successes of the Green Riyadh initiative and implement their own urban greening projects that are tailored to their own circumstances.
The following efforts have been made to reduce the carbon footprint of the Green Riyadh initiative:
The project team is working with the Riyadh Municipality to develop a new green transportation plan for the city. This plan will promote sustainable transportation options, such as walking, biking and public transportation. This will help to reduce the city’s reliance on cars and reduce its carbon footprint.
The project team is working with local schools and community groups to educate the public about the importance of reducing their carbon footprint. This includes teaching people about the benefits of planting trees, using recycled materials, and choosing sustainable transportation options.
The anticipated impacts of the Green Riyadh initiative on the environment have been considered in a number of ways, including:
Plant selection
Access to water
Energy efficiency and recycling
The Green Riyadh initiative has considered the use of natural resources to ensure that it is sustainable and resilient in the following ways:
Soils
Water
Other natural resources