Sharaan Nature Reserve Restores Ecosystem with 500,000 Trees in AlUla

Sharaan Nature Reserve in AlUla has planted 500,000 native trees and shrubs as part of an extensive reforestation project.

Seeds were sourced locally and cultivated at a specialised native plant nursery, with species chosen for their ability to improve soil health, retain water and provide a sustainable food source for herbivores. This effort complements the reserve’s ongoing rewilding program, which has so far introduced over 1,000 native animals into four protected reserves across AlUla.

The project also serves as a pilot for ecological rehabilitation in arid regions, developed in partnership with the Saudi Green Initiative. It tests innovative restoration techniques tailored to challenging desert environments.

The local community played a key role, with residents, students and employees of the Royal Commission for AlUla contributing to the effort. Stephen Browne, the commission’s vice president for wildlife and natural heritage, described the project as a critical step in balancing ecological restoration with cultural preservation.