Kew REACH has announced its partnership with Saudi Arabia’s National Centre for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) in support of ecological restoration. 

Established by Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG Kew) and Kew Science, the partnership with NCVC plans to strengthen and accelerate the Kingdom’s National Greening Programme (NGP). 

It will provide expertise in plant science, seed conservation and sustainable ecosystem restoration. 

RBG Kew will provide Kew REACH with access to over 250 years of botanical discovery and conservation. These resources will provide understanding behind ecosystems and how they thrive. 

Dr. Khaled bin Abdullah, CEO of NCVC says the collaboration will use Kew’s expertise “to restore degraded lands and promote environmental sustainability.”

Currently holding the presidency of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Saudi Arabia has made national commitments to reversing land degradation through its Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) and NGP. 

This partnership will offer a driving force in science-led solutions to land degradation, desertification and climate resilience. 

The NGP has planted over 135 million trees and restored more than 200,000 hectares of land. 

Its long term vision expects to plant 10 billion trees and rehabilitate 40 million hectares globally.