RIYADH: In Saudi Arabia’s hyper-arid landscape, planting acacia trees is only the first step toward restoring desert ecosystems. Prolonged drought, erratic rainfall and grazing pressure threaten young seedlings, making the protection of mature trees and the restoration of degraded habitats equally important. At the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve, conservationists are working to protect established acacia woodlands while expanding vegetation cover and encouraging natural regeneration. Matu
