Red Sea Global Hosts Celebratory Mangrove Planting Initiative

the developer behind the regenerative tourism destinations The Red Sea and Amaala, hosted a celebratory planting initiative on International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. More than 100 volunteers from the local community, plus representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) and students in RSG's English for Tourism program, took part in the planting initiative, organized in collaboration with Green Umluj, a local NGO. Group Chief Environment and Sustainability Officer at RSG, Raed Albasseet, emphasized the importance of mangrove trees as powerful tools for carbon sequestration, noting their capability to absorb up to 5-10 times more carbon than other plants. He added that establishing a sustainable mangrove ecosystem is crucial to RSG's commitment to safeguarding and enriching the natural environment of their destinations. Last year, RSG opened the Red Sea Mangrove Nursery and has transplanted one million seedlings across its destination areas to date. T his year, it expects to grow a further two million. This latest initiative is part of a larger-scale program called 'From People to Planet,' where members of the local community, RSG partners, and visitors to The Red Sea destination can participate in future planting initiatives. "Through meticulous site selection, we have achieved a remarkable survival rate of 99% among the transplanted mangroves across our destination areas. But beyond the brains needed to achieve this feat, it takes incredible people power. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the partners and local community members who have volunteered to help in our planting efforts to date. Our hope is that through our 'From People to Planet' program, others will support our environmental regeneration efforts," Albasseet added. Last year, The Red Sea welcomed its first guests, with three of its hotels now open. Red Sea International (RSI) has been receiving a regular schedule of domestic flights since September 2023, and international flights began in April 2024, with a twice-weekly route between The Red Sea and Dubai International. Upon full completion in 2030, the destination will comprise 50 resorts, offering up to 8,000 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites. The destination will also include luxury marinas, golf courses, entertainment, food and beverage, and leisure facilities. Source: Saudi Press Agency