Jeddah: The 27th Session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission, hosted by Saudi Arabia in Jeddah and co-organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC), concluded today. Over three days, the session discussed recommendations and outcomes through engagement among decision-makers, experts, and specialists from 27 countries.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the deliberations addressed the sustainable management of forests and rangelands, including initiatives to enhance forest production and livelihood opportunities, mangrove restoration for coastal resilience, and challenges related to drought, wildfires, forest health, and invasive alien species. The agenda also included the Green Cities initiative and tree-planting to mitigate sand and dust storms, as well as the use of big data and artificial intelligence to transform agrifood systems, with a view to formulating strategic recommendations for the 38th Near East Regional Conference.
The session adopted recommendations inviting members to engage in the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration by submitting forest- and rangeland-related initiatives and supporting innovative finance and sustainable management. It encouraged countries to improve cross-sector coordination to ensure the long-term implementation of land restoration within integrated development solutions, undertake a regional assessment of investment opportunities in forest and rangeland restoration, including economic feasibility analyses and scalable models, and improve financing opportunities for ecosystem-restoration programs that deliver sustainable environmental and social benefits.
The commission welcomed FAO's work on the Global Forest Resources Assessment and related international initiatives, including the Rio Conventions, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in achieving sustainability objectives. It reaffirmed the role of forests and rangelands in advancing food security and sustainable growth and called for greater investment in non-wood forest products. It emphasized the importance of drought management in the Near East and support for nature-based solutions, including forest and rangeland restoration to combat drought, sand, and dust storms. In light of the growing threat of invasive alien species exacerbated by drought and climate change, the commission called for stronger coordination between scientists and policymakers to enhance forest health management. It also welcomed FAO's Green Cities initiative to expand urban green spaces, reduce the impacts of sand and dust storms, and enhance environmental sustainability in cities.
Members highlighted the increasing impact of wildfires in the region and their serious environmental, economic, and social consequences, including threats to ecosystems, human life, livelihoods, food security, and significant greenhouse gas emissions. They noted that recurring droughts, severe heatwaves, and prolonged dry periods have heightened wildfire risks in North Africa and West Asia, disrupting natural systems and communities and undermining progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
The commission called for strengthening Integrated Fire Management (IFM); supporting the Near East and North Africa Wildfires Network (NENFIRE) Roadmap; implementing a pilot project to establish fire-resilient landscapes; and enhancing prevention, integrated management, and post-fire recovery efforts. It encouraged knowledge exchange through NENFIRE, the development of early-warning systems, and the promotion of agroforestry to increase resilience to fire. The commission also welcomed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's initiative, in cooperation with NENFIRE, to develop a regional early-warning system that integrates meteorological and vegetation data to reduce damage.
Moving forward, the commission recommended that FAO continue supporting the development of national fire-management strategies aligned with international standards and national contexts and encouraged testing innovative solutions to reduce wildfire risk.