The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) has launched the SAUDINet initiative in collaboration with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). 

This initiative aims to advance terrestrial ecology research in Saudi Arabia and provide scientific insights to support land management agencies and policymakers. SAUDINet also seeks to establish Saudi Arabia as a global leader in the study of arid and hyper-arid ecosystems while raising awareness about the ecological importance of drylands and the key environmental challenges they face. 

Most data on biodiversity and soils are based on non-dryland ecosystems. Less than 0.1 percent of soil carbon data, for example, comes from hyper-arid lands. This is important when considering climate models and satellite data, which depend on available ground data to deliver robust information, explains KAUST Professor Fernando Maestre, Environmental Science and Engineering, who is head of SAUDINet. 

As part of the initiative, NCVC’s workforce will receive specialized training in biodiversity monitoring and ecological sampling, with collected samples analyzed in KAUST’s cutting-edge laboratories. Research under SAUDINet will focus on restoring degraded lands, enhancing carbon sequestration and preserving biodiversity. 

NCVC continues to implement programs and projects that support a thriving and sustainable vegetation cover across the Kingdom while overseeing the management and sustainable use of rangelands and national parks. 

The launch of SAUDINet in collaboration with KAUST represents a major step forward in combating desertification and land degradation through innovative ecological research and data-driven solutions.