Riyadh roads turn green as world’s largest urban greening project branches out – ZAWYA

Riyadh roads turn green as world’s largest urban greening project branches out – ZAWYA

Riyadh roads turn green as world's largest urban greening project branches out The project will maximize the use of recycled water through the construction of a new recycled water network    A view of the city of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, December 18, 2017. Image used for illustrative purpose. RIYADH: The Green Riyadh project, one of the world's largest urban greening initiatives, is rapidly bearing fruit as it transforms main roads in the capital.Major thoroughfares, including King Khalid, Makkah and King Salman roads, are getting a facelift as part of the Vision 2030 goal of improving quality of life in the city.Dr. Fahad Al-Mana, a professor of Ornamental Plants, Gardens and Green Areas at King Saud University, told Arab News that native tree species being used for the project include Ziziphus spina-christi, Acacia gerrardii and Prosopis cineraria, commonly known as the ghaf tree.According to Al-Mana, the trees can survive in harsh desert conditions and will grow without intensive agricultural care."Most of the tree species used in the planting of the Green Riyadh project are from a well-developed local environment with low agricultural service and care,“ he said.Environmental conditions in Riyadh were taken into account during the tree selection process. The