Saudi Volunteer Fosters Green Schools and Communities Through Tree-Planting Initiatives

Makkah: Environmental volunteer Faleh Al-Juhani is transforming classrooms and public spaces across western Saudi Arabia into green oases, inspiring students and communities to take an active role in environmental stewardship.

Al-Juhani, whose interest in agriculture began as a personal hobby, has expanded his efforts to schools, universities, public parks, and government sites in Makkah, Jeddah, and Taif. Through volunteer teams, he leads tree-planting campaigns, distributes free seedlings, and raises awareness about pollution, vegetation loss, and sustainable living.

The initiative focuses on native plant species such as ghaf, neem, sidr, jatropha, tecoma, and star jasmine, which are well-adapted to the local environment. Al-Juhani emphasizes that the project not only improves aesthetics but also provides shade, moderates classroom temperatures, absorbs carbon, and promotes environmental consciousness among students.

“Schools are not just walls and curricula; they are the first spaces where awareness toward our planet is nurtured,” Al-Juhani said. “By transforming schoolyards from concrete spaces into green environments, we invest in both our students’ futures and the health of our environment.”

He highlighted that student participation instills a sense of connection with nature and fosters long-term responsibility. Planting a tree, he noted, is more than decoration it serves as a “living laboratory” teaching patience, care, and ecological balance.

Al-Juhani also drew inspiration from faith, citing the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) saying: “Any plant or crop a Muslim grows that benefits people, animals, or birds is considered charity (sadaqah).”

He urged communities to expand planting efforts beyond schools to homes, neighborhoods, and workplaces, advocating that increasing vegetation cover is a collective responsibility that improves quality of life and protects the environment.

“Our call today to every school is simple: turn your courtyards into breathing lungs and teach students that green is the color of hope and survival,” he said. “Every tree planted today is an environmental legacy for future generations, ensuring a cleaner and more sustainable world.”