Saudi to plant trees along Riyadh Dammam rail tracks

(MENAFN- Arab News) RIYADH: The Saudi inventor who recently planted 3400 trees in Khurais in the Eastern Province also aims to plant trees along the railroad tracks between Riyadh and Dammam to reduce ozone problems.
'We can plant 640000 trees of five varieties with the use of a super absorbent polymer' said Ibrahim Alalim who developed the technology while working in Lausanne Switzerland.
Alalim said the tree varieties include cedar acacia neem jatropha and moringa adding that these with the use of a super absorbent polymer will help save the ozone layer.
The super absorbent polymer Alalim said will enable the trees to absorb water and store it so that the trees will be self-sufficient.
The polymer could absorb water up to 600 times its weight. It's a unique invention that has received international awards and could double production of rice fruit trees vegetables and cereals.
'The 640000 trees will be planted in four lines on both sides of the railroad tracks with a length of 420 km to slow down wind speed and eliminate soil erosion and sand movement' Alalim said.
He said that the Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) has accepted bids and 'we will offer our services to the winner.'
'We are ready to provide our expertise solutions and services to the contractor and SRO to save water the environment and to improve the ozone layer' he said.
Alalim and his group are confident about the project after successfully planting 3410 trees in Khurais between Dec. 1 2014 and March 20 2015.
He and his group have turned the project over to the government but will have to maintain it for two years by checking the trees and making sure that they are growing appropriately.