FAO Conducts Training to Strengthening Saudi Forest and Climate Change Action

The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) and FAO have organized a training course on climate change at the Riyadh Fairmont Hotel on 7 and 8 September 2022. The training focused on role of forest in climate change action with special emphasis on the mechanism for negotiations in emission reduction. The training was conducted by trainers drawn from FAO Saudi Arabia, FAO Near East Regional Office and FAO HQ in Rome.

Opening the event, Eng. Sameer Malaikah, NCVC Forestry Department Director General highlighted the importance of understanding climate change related issues to strengthen the Centre’s capacities for effective involvement in climate related conventions and initiatives. He further observed that climate change knowledge will support the Center ongoing efforts to integrate climate change in all development initiatives. The training will also equip the staff of the Forestry and other NCVC departments to actively engage in regional and international climate forums and negotiations. He warmly welcomed all participants, including those attending from the regional branches, and thanked FAO for working together with the department to organize the training.

The training was opened by Mr Saeed Sami, Senior Programme Implementation and Support Expert on behalf of FAO Programme Director. In his speech, Saeed echoed the importance of Saudi Arabia being prepared for the challenges posed by climate change such as flashfloods, droughts, wildfires, and sandstorms. He stated that the strong collaboration between FAO, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and NCVC strengthens the capacity of Saudi Arabia to apply nature-based solution to current and future development challenges, at a time when natural disasters continue to become more intense as is being witnessed across the globe.

The training covered several topics including climate change concepts and processes; UNFCCC objectives, institutional and legal framework, negotiation process, milestones, protocol, and agreements; importance and role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation; REDD+ concept and mechanisms; among others.

A flexible approach was adopted for the training and participants were able to ask question, clarify local situation, and provide feedback at any point during the training, making the engagement between the trainers and participants interactive and lively. At the end of the course, small working groups were conducted to give participants the opportunity to reflect on and apply what they had learnt. The work group discussions were centered around climate change and Saudi Green Initiative.

Speaking during the closing session and awarding of certificates to participants, NCVC CEO Dr. Khaled expressed his appreciation to FAO, the Forest Department, and participants for the successful training and challenged them to use the skills and knowledge gained to mainstream climate change in the Kingdom development agenda. Dr Kakoli, FAO SRADP CTA, thanked Dr. Khaled, and NCVC and FAO Natural Resources team for the good training and especially appreciated the good gender balance in the selection of trainees. She called for more trainings of this kind for NCVC staff and other stakeholder soon.

FAO highly appreciates the tireless efforts made by the resource persons Dr. Abdalla Siddiq, Dr. Sami Albarih, Dr. Raees Khan, Dr. AbdelHamied Hamid, Dr. Fidaa Haddad, and Dr. Mona Dawelbait in preparing and delivering the course.