GREEN Riyadh is one of Riyadh's four grand projects launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, under supervision of the Committee of Grand Projects chaired by Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense. This project is a key element of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and is an important part of the city's challenges towards becoming one of the top 100 cities in the world and eventually achieving the highest ranking possible. The Green Riyadh Project includes planting 7.5 million trees across the capital in gardens and parks, mosques, schools, academic, healthcare and public facilities in addition to King Khaled International Airport and most of roads, streets, car parking spaces, and valleys. To secure the required irrigation water for this project, new irrigation networks will be established to use recycled water, which is usually being wasted in the valleys. Selected species of trees will be used to make wide shade cover. Those species will survive in Riyadh's desert environment and will not require large amounts of water. Additionally, required supportive elements will be made available for this project such as: a network of nurseries to feed the project with seedlings, legislation and urban standards will be developed to encourage tree planting on public and private projects, and all local community groups will be encouraged to participate in volunteering initiatives within the Green Riyadh Project. Vision The Green Riyadh project will contribute in increasing the per capita share of green space, and raise total green spaces through planting trees around all city features and facilities as well as in all its provinces. All of the greening will be watered by recycled water from an irrigation network. The greening initiative will lead to improved air quality and reduced temperatures in the city. As a consequences, this project will encourage Riyadh citizens to follow a healthy lifestyle which is part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. Afforestation projects 6,000 schools, 2,000 car parking sites, 1670 government facilities, 390 healthcare facilities, 64 universities, 16,400 km street and roads, 1,100 km green belts along utilities lines (electricity towers, and petrol pipelines), 272 km valleys, 175,000 square km of empty land, 3,330 neighborhood gardens, 43 parks and 9,000 mosques. Afforestation: 1,100 km green tree species using 72 local tree species, which are able to survive in the Riyadh environment. Processed Water: Maximize use of recycled water in irrigation works by increasing its usage from 90,000 cubic meter per day now to more than 1 million cubic meter per day in the future, by establishing a new recycled water network.
