Ulaanbaatar: The General Secretariat of the Middle East Green Initiative is scheduled to participate in the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17), to be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from August 17 to 28, to showcase the initiative's efforts to combat desertification, restore degraded land, and enhance regional environmental cooperation.

According to Saudi Press Agency, during its first participation in the conference, the initiative will highlight the efforts of its 35 regional member states to address the challenges of desertification, land degradation, and climate change, and translate environmental targets into practical programs and projects. Among the key targets is planting some 50 billion trees, equivalent to restoring 200 million hectares of degraded land across member states.

During the conference, the initiative will focus on boosting partnerships with UNCCD and relevant regional and international organizations, while showcasing practical regional solutions.

Secretary-General of the Middle East Green Initiative Eng. Ibrahim Alturki said that the initiative's first participation in UNCCD COP17 represents an important opportunity to reaffirm the determination of regional member states to strengthen efforts to restore degraded land and combat desertification in the region.

Through its participation in the conference, the initiative seeks to enhance dialogue with regional and non-regional countries, international organizations, financial and scientific institutions, the private sector, and civil society organizations.