Seoul: The sands of Tihama are transforming into a green carpet, weaving the contours of a promising environmental and economic future. Hodeidah Governorate is witnessing exceptional developmental momentum that transcends traditional afforestation concepts, establishing the "Green Belt" system as a comprehensive national strategy.
According to Yemen News Agency, this project, which combines urban planning and environmental protection, represents a formidable barrier against desertification and a bold step towards promoting green practices in one of Yemen's most important agricultural regions and vital gateways.
The project reflects a practical shift in environmental management in the governorate, moving from limited initiatives to a comprehensive program implemented by government agencies, the Higher Agricultural and Fisheries Committee, the local authority, the Fifth Military Region, the private sector, agricultural associations, landowners, and farmers.
The project operates on two integrated tracks: the first within the city's urban area, and the second in its surrounding geographical areas, encompassing the districts of Bajil, Al-Marawi'ah, and Ad-Durayhimi. The planning takes into account urban expansion, soil type, wind direction, and the extent of sand dune cover.
In the first green belt within Hodeidah city, estimates from the Environmental Monitoring and Education Center and the Sanitation and Improvement Fund indicate the planting of between 40,000 and 50,000 trees and plants. These have been distributed across streets, parks, squares, medians, and tree-lined walkways, as well as public and private facilities, farms, and homes. This widespread planting has contributed to increasing the vegetation cover within the city limits and improving the urban environment.
The project to plant ten thousand palm trees further reinforced this trend by introducing a productive economic component to the urban afforestation system, thus supporting the agricultural character of the governorate and promoting the sustainable use of cultivated areas.
As for the second green belt, which forms the green ring surrounding the city, the number of completed, existing, and ongoing green belts has reached 2,460, with an average of 1,200 trees per belt, bringing the total number of planted trees to more than 2.7 million. This reflects the well-planned expansion of the governorate's vegetation.
The Bajil district leads the list with approximately 2,000 green belts, followed by Al-Marawi'ah with 300, and then Ad-Durayhimi with 160, reflecting the project's broad scope and carefully planned geographical distribution around the city.
The green belt surrounding the city of Hodeidah extends within a natural and administrative framework encompassing the Red Sea to the west, Bajil to the north (18% of the belt's area), Al-Marawi'ah to the east (12%), and Ad-Durayhimi to the south (10%). Sand dunes occupy approximately 60% of the area, highlighting the project's importance in stabilizing the soil and mitigating sand movement.
Planting efforts in the dune areas focus on salt- and drought-tolerant trees such as tamarisk and sesbania. This helps to block seasonal sandstorms known as "Azeeb," enhance soil stability, improve air quality, and reduce the impact of heat on residential and agricultural areas.
The green belt, along with the Red Sea, forms an integrated environmental protection line for the city, contributing to mitigating the effects of climate change, supporting the sustainability of natural resources, and enhancing the productivity of agricultural lands.
The project aims to achieve a number of strategic objectives, including ensuring sustainable development through a balance between economic growth and environmental protection, encouraging the use of renewable energy, adopting effective water management practices, preserving biodiversity, and protecting natural habitats.
The project exemplifies a broad partnership, with the participation of the local authority in the governorate and its districts, the Office of Economy, Trade, and Investment, the Hodeidah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the branch of the General Authority for Water Resources, the Agricultural and Fisheries Projects and Initiatives Financing Unit, the branch of the General Authority for Environmental Protection, agricultural associations, the private sector, and the Fifth Military Region.
The project is overseen by the Green Belt Committee for Hodeidah and its surrounding areas, and a specialized technical team headed by the Prime Minister's Advisor for Environmental Affairs, Ali Al-Asadi, who monitors field implementation and directs the expansion of afforestation efforts according to a phased plan aimed at enhancing environmental and developmental sustainability.
The Governor of Hodeidah, Abdullah Atifi, affirmed that the Green Belt project embodies the leadership's directives to transform environmental challenges into sustainable development opportunities that benefit the people of Tihama.
He explained that the local authority places this project at the forefront of its priorities, as it represents a safeguard for the city against desertification and provides a fertile agricultural environment that contributes to achieving self-sufficiency and enhancing the nation's food sovereignty.
Atifi considered the expansion of planting thousands of trees and palms a true investment for future generations, contributing to improving the quality of life and mitigating the climate in the governorate. He emphasized the continued support to ensure the sustainability and expansion of these achievements.
For his part, the Prime Minister's Advisor for Environmental Affairs and Head of the Green Belt Team, Ali Al-Asadi, explained that the project relies on a precise technical and scientific vision aimed at restoring the ecological balance lost due to desertification.
He emphasized that the initiative to plant more than two million trees along the second green belt represents a significant leap forward in Yemen's environmental engineering. Highly adaptable plant varieties were selected to form a robust barrier against erosion and sandstorms.
Al-Asadi pointed out that the project's implications extend beyond the local level, contributing effectively to international efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce carbon emissions.
He affirmed that the Green Belt Committee and its specialized team are monitoring the field implementation according to environmental maps and technical studies that prioritize interventions, particularly in areas heavily covered by sand dunes. This will contribute to building a natural protection system surrounding the city and supporting sustainable development.
In the same vein, Abdul Nasser Al-Sharif, Executive Director of the Hodeidah Cleaning and Improvement Fund, confirmed that the Fund is dedicating all its resources to enhancing vegetation cover within the urban area, ensuring the sustainability of the first green belt.
He explained that the efforts to plant trees in streets, medians, and public squares have yielded tangible results in improving the city's aesthetic appeal and raising environmental awareness among residents. He emphasized that the fund is working in coordination with all partners to ensure the care and protection of this vast plant wealth.
The figures achieved during the past period reflect the scale of the transformation Hodeidah is witnessing in the field of green expansion. A wide green belt is forming around the city, representing a cornerstone for environmental protection and supporting the agricultural economy. This lays the foundation for a development phase based on the efficient and responsible investment of natural resources.
With each new sapling planted, hope grows that Tihama will be transformed into a green oasis overflowing with prosperity and security, remaining a living testament to a phase of construction and development where aspirations overcome all obstacles, paving the way for a bright future for the people and land of resilient Yemen.