Riyadh: The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) organized a workshop titled 'Carbon Credits for Nature-Based Solutions: Methodologies, MRV, and Application Pathways for Blue and Green Carbon.' The event is part of the center's broader efforts to leverage ecosystems in addressing climate change and supporting the Kingdom's net-zero targets.

According to Saudi Press Agency, it affirmed that its initiatives to expand vegetation cover and restore degraded lands directly improve soil health, increase carbon storage capacity, and reduce emissions associated with land degradation. These efforts are designed to enhance biodiversity and strengthen ecosystem resilience against climate change in a sustainable manner.

NCVC said that the workshop reflects its conviction for the importance of collaborative action and its commitment to strengthening cooperation with local, regional, and international partners -- foremost among them the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Saudi Arabia -- to transfer expertise and localize knowledge in the monitoring of land productivity and soil organic carbon stocks, particularly in hyper-arid environments.

The release added that the workshop highlighted the role of nature-based solutions in carbon capture and storage, the latest technologies, and long-term strategies in this field. It also explored opportunities to develop carbon credit markets in ways that accelerate the achievement of sustainability and net-zero targets and advance pathways for sustainable environmental development in Saudi Arabia.