Saudi Arabia to Join COFO28, World Forest Week in Rome

Saudi Arabia, represented by the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC), will participate in the 28th Session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO28), convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy, from September 28 to October 2, 2026. The session will be held concurrently with the 10th World Forest Week under the theme “Forests for Food, Resilience and Prosperity,” according to the Saudi Press Agency. The Kingdom’s delegation will join ministers, forestry officials, scientists and international organizations from around the world to advance global dialogue on sustainable forest management and ecosystem restoration.

Why does a desert nation command attention at the world’s premier forestry gathering? Because Saudi Arabia’s participation reflects an active and growing presence in regional and international forums concerned with forests, land restoration and environmental resilience. The Kingdom arrives in Rome with a record of large-scale domestic programs, a regional leadership mandate and a clear message: combating desertification and expanding vegetation cover are essential to food security, climate stability and economic prosperity. The delegation is expected to present Saudi approaches and experience in sustainable forest management and ecosystem restoration, aimed at improving ecosystem efficiency and enhancing resilience.

Context and Background

What is COFO, and why does its 28th session matter? The Committee on Forestry is the FAO’s highest governing body dedicated to forests, bringing together heads of forestry services, policymakers and experts to set global priorities. It meets every two years, and its recommendations shape how countries manage forests, report data and finance restoration. The 10th World Forest Week runs alongside it as a platform for dialogue among governments, civil society, academia and the private sector. The 2026 edition focuses on the links between forests, food systems and resilience — themes that resonate strongly with Saudi Arabia’s national priorities.

Saudi Arabia’s engagement with the FAO framework is long-standing but has accelerated in recent years. The Kingdom hosted the 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) in Riyadh in December 2024, where it launched the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership and rallied international commitments to restore degraded land. That summit elevated land restoration from a technical subject to a headline geopolitical priority, and it positioned Saudi Arabia as a bridge between developed and developing countries on environmental policy.

The NCVC, established to lead national efforts on vegetation cover and desertification, is the institutional engine behind this agenda. Its mandate spans rangeland rehabilitation, seed production, afforestation, and the protection of natural reserves. By sending a delegation to COFO28, the Kingdom reinforces a consistent strategy: participate in the forums where global rules and resources are decided, and share practical solutions from one of the world’s most arid regions. Isn’t that a more credible form of environmental diplomacy than distant pledges?

Key Details of Saudi Arabia’s Participation

What exactly will Saudi Arabia showcase in Rome? According to the Saudi Press Agency, the Kingdom will present its approaches and experience in sustainable forest management and ecosystem restoration, with the aim of improving ecosystem efficiency and enhancing resilience. This includes techniques for propagating native drought-tolerant species, restoring degraded rangelands, and integrating water-saving irrigation into afforestation projects. The Saudi delegation will also highlight how these programs contribute to food security by protecting soils, supporting pastoral livelihoods and sustaining biodiversity.

The timing of the session is notable. Saudi Arabia currently chairs the 26th Session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission (NEFRC), a FAO regional body, for the period from September 2025 to August 2027. This chairmanship gives the Kingdom a formal platform to coordinate the positions of Near East and North African countries on forestry and rangeland issues. At COFO28, Saudi Arabia can translate that regional mandate into global influence, aligning the priorities of a water-scarce region with international restoration targets.

The event also coincides with a broader Saudi environmental calendar. The Saudi Green Initiative, launched in 2021, aims to plant 10 billion trees across the Kingdom and protect 30 percent of land and sea by 2030. The Middle East Green Initiative, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, extends that ambition across the region with a target of 50 billion trees. COFO28 offers a stage to report progress, attract technical partnerships and demonstrate that desert greening is not a slogan but a measurable program with nurseries, seed banks and monitoring systems. Could any country match the scale of this regional commitment?

International and Regional Impact

How will Saudi participation shape the global forestry conversation? The FAO estimates that the world loses millions of hectares of forest each year, with devastating consequences for carbon storage, water cycles and rural livelihoods. At the same time, drylands — which cover roughly 40 percent of the planet’s land surface — are often overlooked in forest policy. Saudi Arabia’s presence at COFO28 pushes dryland restoration up the agenda, advocating for financing and technologies suited to arid ecosystems rather than only humid tropical forests.

Regionally, the Kingdom’s NEFRC chairmanship creates a channel for coordinated action. Near East countries share challenges: water scarcity, overgrazing, sand and dust storms, and rapid urbanization. By presenting a unified regional voice in Rome, Saudi Arabia can help direct FAO programs and donor attention toward these shared problems. The participation also strengthens South-South cooperation, allowing Saudi experts to exchange knowledge with counterparts from Africa, Asia and Latin America who face similar land degradation pressures.

Diplomatically, the visit adds momentum to Saudi Arabia’s environmental leadership portfolio, which includes the UNCCD COP16 presidency outcomes and the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership. International observers increasingly view the Kingdom not only as an energy producer but as a convenor on sustainability issues. That reputation has practical value: it attracts research institutions, multilateral funding and private-sector partners to Saudi restoration projects. Doesn’t that redefine what leadership looks like in the twenty-first century?

Economic and Strategic Significance

Why should investors and businesses care about forest policy? Land restoration is increasingly an economic proposition. Healthy rangelands and forests support agriculture, reduce dust-related health costs, improve water retention and create rural employment. Saudi Arabia’s afforestation and restoration programs generate demand for nurseries, seed technology, irrigation systems, drones, satellite monitoring and environmental consulting. Participation in COFO28 allows Saudi entities to showcase these opportunities and build partnerships with international firms and research centers.

The strategic dimension is equally important. Food security is a core national priority, and forests and rangelands underpin pastoral production systems across the region. By restoring degraded land, Saudi Arabia reduces reliance on imported fodder, protects local agricultural livelihoods and enhances resilience to drought. These outcomes align with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goal of diversifying the economy and improving quality of life. Environmental restoration also supports the tourism and entertainment sectors by creating greener landscapes around projects such as NEOM, the Red Sea and AlUla.

Moreover, the Kingdom’s credibility in these forums is reinforced by domestic delivery. The NCVC has established seed centers, planted millions of trees and rehabilitated rangelands across multiple regions. International partners value counterparts who can demonstrate implementation, not just ambition. At COFO28, Saudi Arabia can point to tangible results while learning from global best practices in forest monitoring and community-based management. What better way to attract long-term investment than by proving that restoration works in the harshest climates?

Vision 2030 Alignment

How does forestry diplomacy connect to Saudi Arabia’s long-term transformation? Vision 2030 rests on a diversified economy, a vibrant society and an ambitious nation. Environmental sustainability cuts across all three. The Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative are flagship programs that translate Vision 2030 aspirations into measurable environmental outcomes. Participation in COFO28 and the 10th World Forest Week demonstrates that the Kingdom is not pursuing these goals in isolation but as an active contributor to global solutions.

The NCVC’s role in Rome reflects a broader institutional shift: Saudi environmental agencies now operate with international mandates, scientific capacity and clear targets. Chairing the NEFRC until August 2027 gives the Kingdom a sustained platform to shape regional policy, while COFO28 provides global visibility. Together, these engagements support the Vision 2030 objective of positioning Saudi Arabia as a leader in sustainability, a destination for green investment and a responsible stakeholder in the international system. The Kingdom’s message in Rome is straightforward: deserts can be restored, resilience can be built, and prosperity can be shared.

20 Questions

Q1. What is COFO28 and who organizes it?

A1. COFO28 is the 28th Session of the Committee on Forestry, the FAO’s highest forestry governing body. It is organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome, Italy.

Q2. When and where will COFO28 take place?

A2. COFO28 will be held in Rome, Italy, from September 28 to October 2, 2026, alongside the 10th World Forest Week, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Q3. Which Saudi entity will represent the Kingdom at COFO28?

A3. Saudi Arabia will be represented by the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC), the agency leading national efforts on vegetation cover and desertification.

Q4. What is the theme of the 10th World Forest Week?

A4. The theme is “Forests for Food, Resilience and Prosperity,” highlighting the links between forest health, food systems and economic and community resilience.

Q5. What will Saudi Arabia showcase during the event?

A5. The Kingdom will showcase its approaches and experience in sustainable forest management and ecosystem restoration, aimed at improving ecosystem efficiency and enhancing resilience.

Q6. Why is Saudi Arabia’s participation significant?

A6. It reflects the Kingdom’s active presence in international forums concerned with forests and its contribution to global dialogue on sustainable forest management and ecosystem restoration.

Q7. What regional body does Saudi Arabia currently chair?

A7. Saudi Arabia chairs the 26th Session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission (NEFRC) for the period from September 2025 to August 2027.

Q8. What is the NEFRC and why does it matter?

A8. The NEFRC is a FAO regional commission coordinating forestry and rangeland policies in the Near East. Saudi chairmanship gives the Kingdom a platform to align regional positions.

Q9. How does COFO28 relate to Saudi Arabia’s environmental goals?

A9. It supports the Saudi Green Initiative and Middle East Green Initiative, which aim to plant billions of trees and protect land, aligning with Vision 2030 sustainability objectives.

Q10. What is the Saudi Green Initiative?

A10. Launched in 2021, it aims to plant 10 billion trees across Saudi Arabia and protect 30 percent of the Kingdom’s land and sea by 2030.

Q11. What is the Middle East Green Initiative?

A11. Led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, it extends regional cooperation with a target of planting 50 billion trees across the Middle East and reducing land degradation.

Q12. How does forest restoration support food security?

A12. Restored rangelands and forests protect soils, improve water retention, support pastoral livelihoods and sustain biodiversity, all of which strengthen food production systems.

Q13. What did Saudi Arabia achieve at UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh?

A13. The 2024 Riyadh conference elevated land restoration globally and launched the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, mobilizing international commitments to combat desertification.

Q14. Why are drylands important in global forest policy?

A14. Drylands cover about 40 percent of the planet’s land surface but are often overlooked. Saudi Arabia advocates for financing and technologies suited to arid ecosystems.

Q15. What economic opportunities arise from restoration programs?

A15. They generate demand for nurseries, seed technology, irrigation, drones, satellite monitoring and environmental consulting, creating jobs and attracting international partnerships.

Q16. How does the NCVC implement restoration domestically?

A16. The NCVC develops seed centers, rehabilitates rangelands, propagates native drought-tolerant species and monitors vegetation cover using modern technologies across multiple Saudi regions.

Q17. What is Saudi Arabia’s message to the international community at COFO28?

A17. The Kingdom demonstrates that desert nations can restore ecosystems, build resilience and contribute practical solutions to global challenges of land degradation and food security.

Q18. How does participation support Vision 2030?

A18. It advances the Vision 2030 goals of economic diversification, improved quality of life and international leadership by positioning Saudi Arabia as a sustainability partner and green investment destination.

Q19. What role does international cooperation play in Saudi forestry policy?

A19. Cooperation through FAO bodies, regional commissions and global summits allows Saudi Arabia to share expertise, attract partners and align national programs with international standards.

Q20. What can the world expect from Saudi Arabia after COFO28?

A20. Continued leadership through the NEFRC chairmanship, expanded afforestation and restoration programs, and stronger partnerships that support global forest and food resilience goals.

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