Beth: The Eastern Region Municipality is preparing to double its expansion in the process of planting trees and green spaces, through its strategic plans in the planting process during the coming years, to triple the expected number within the Eastern Region Municipality's program in afforestation of "eastern green" cities; In line with urban expansion and to achieve the vision of the Kingdom 2030, by choosing a number of trees that fit the atmosphere of the region, the most prominent of which is the “Poinciana” or the royal tree, which the Municipality has started planting, and is scheduled to be included in the coming years, in all cities and governorates of the Eastern Province.

The Municipality explained that during the last period and during the first season of 2021, it had planted (317,000) trees out of the total target for the year, which is (100,000) trees within the Secretariat’s program in afforestation of cities for the “Green East” initiative, which varied between trees (Neem, Ficus, Bansiana, Sidr, Ghaf, Cypress, Dairy); To increase its rate and parallel with the urban expansion and the urban urban renaissance and everything related to the protection of the environment and the preservation and development of the natural vegetation cover.

The secretariat said that planting trees and seedlings is part of the secretariat's plan; To enhance and diversify the vegetation cover and enhance the aesthetic impact, in addition to the fact that afforestation represents a tourist attraction for the region, especially since afforestation operations in cities and governorates have a major role in contributing to the economic and environmental sustainability of cities within the programs of quality of life and humanization of cities, and contributing to achieving the Kingdom’s vision 2030 by increasing Per capita green area and urban landscape improvement.

The Secretariat indicated that Al-Khobar Governorate was distinguished by these trees, which the Eastern Province Municipality was keen to include in it, as (118) thousand trees of the Poinciana or the royal tree were planted, as they were introduced to the nurseries of Al-Khobar Municipality in 1987 and were widely used in Prince Faisal bin Fahd Waterfront Park Project in Al-Khobar in 2002 AD; More than (7000) trees have been planted in Al-Khobar so far.

The secretariat confirmed that it is working to intensify the process of planting this type of trees in cosmetic agricultural projects in the governorate, in addition to being one of the most important ornamental trees used in the field of cosmetic agriculture. Due to its large size and the beauty of its red flowers, which is called the desert flame, noting that this tree is one of the distinguishing features of the city of Al-Khobar in the summer season.

The Municipality is keen to include the "Jatropha" tree, which it had initiated through continuous awareness campaigns on its cultivation in the main streets and inside neighborhoods and parks, which is considered a wealth in the field of agricultural development; To produce environmentally friendly alternative energies, it grows to a height of up to 3 m, has crimson red flowers with yellow stamens, withstands harsh environmental conditions, is fast growing, flowering, and works to strengthen the ecosystem and its repercussions on human health and quality of life.

Al-Sharqiya Municipality indicated that the trees planted in Al-Khobar governorate amounted to more than 14,000 trees distributed throughout the governorate within a community partnership. These initiatives come to protect the environment and natural resources; Achieving sustainable development and community well-being. She also stressed the importance of afforestation to maintain ecological balance, its role in purifying the air, combating its sources of pollution, and alleviating summer temperatures, so that residential suburbs would be an ideal healthy environment for improving the residential environment.

The Secretariat attached great importance to the neem tree. Because it contains high capabilities in the field of biological control of nature, and because it is one of the local environmental trees such as Sidr, Samar and Al-Qard, noting that it has carried out extensive campaigns to plant them in neighborhoods and walkways and around industrial areas, until their number reached approximately 10600 trees in Al-Khobar Governorate, in addition to planting them in Cities and governorates of the region, to benefit from their shade and ability to expel insects by planting them in the recent period, specifically around sports paths and densely populated areas.

It is noteworthy that the "Eastern Green" initiative, in its second phase, after achieving success in the first phase, aims to plant one million trees in all cities and governorates of the Eastern Region in cooperation with members of civil society, institutions, charitable and civil societies, and the Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Water, by involving them in the development process and achieving higher degrees of sustainability.

The secretariat called on all members of society to preserve the trees and green areas and not to tamper with them so that everyone can benefit from their benefits.