Buraidah Oasis, a project initiated by the National Water Company (NWC) in support of the Saudi Green Initiative, has recorded the first internationally accredited water footprint globally and the first internationally accredited carbon footprint in the Middle East and Europe.
This achievement comes as the project approaches the conclusion of its inaugural year, with NWC highlighting it as one of its flagship initiatives in promoting environmental sustainability.
The carbon footprint report, which was certified by the German Board, showed that the oasis has no carbon emissions and is instead a giant reservoir that absorbs carbon from the surrounding environment at a rate of 0.12 percent per year. The certification was presented to NWC CEO Dr. Fuad Al AlSheikh Mubarak.
The German Government’s German Board certification is one of the strongest institutional certifications at the European level, given Germany’s global excellence in the agricultural sector, as well as its seven decades of experience in combating carbon emissions.
Achieving complete absorption of CO2 emissions remains an ambitious goal pursued by nations and international organizations dedicated to this cause across diverse environments globally. A comparative analysis between Buraidah Oasis and a forest in Germany highlights this effort: the forest emits 12 times more carbon emissions than the oasis. This stark contrast underscores the oasis’ impressive capacity for carbon absorption, showcasing its vital role in environmental sustainability.
As for the water footprint, the report for Buraidah Oasis was prepared to calculate the rate of water wastage and the amount of irrigation water concentration in the vicinity of the tree trunk, which contributes to the sapling’s absorption of carbon emission.
The water footprint is an indicator that measures the appropriate amount of water that a single plant needs to grow dynamically. The Buraidah Oasis features one million trees encircling a vast lake that contains 86,000 cubic meters of renewable water sourced from NWC’s wastewater treatment plant. This innovative approach is integral to its future vision for sustainability and aims to make a positive environmental impact in the Kingdom.
A new antelope sanctuary has recently been established within the oasis, featuring the release of 15 antelopes into its protected environment. This sanctuary spans 50,000 square meters of the oasis’s expansive total area of 19 million square meters.
