As part of ongoing efforts to protect natural resources and ensure the sustainability of environmental resources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Special Forces for Environmental Security were able to detect a number of violations of the environmental system in the Riyadh region and the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, as part of their intensive field campaigns to monitor compliance with environmental regulations.
Violation recorded regarding the transport of local firewood
The Special Forces for Environmental Security announced the arrest of a citizen for violating environmental regulations by transporting one cubic meter of local firewood in the Riyadh region. Legal procedures were applied to the violator, and the seized quantities were handed over to the relevant authorities. This action is in accordance with strict regulations prohibiting logging or the transport of local firewood, with the aim of halting the degradation of vegetation cover.
The forces explained in their statement that the penalties for transporting local firewood and charcoal are severe, with fines reaching 16,000 riyals per cubic meter. These increased penalties aim to deter violators and curb the phenomenon of illegal logging, which has caused serious damage to the desert environment over the past decades, contributing to the exacerbation of desertification.
Violation of grazing regulations in the King Abdulaziz Reserve
In a related incident, authorities apprehended another citizen for grazing violations, specifically for grazing eight camels in prohibited areas within the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve. Legal procedures were applied to him in accordance with the executive regulations of the Environmental Law.
The authorities confirmed that the penalty for grazing camels in prohibited areas is a fine of 500 riyals per camel. The grazing ban in royal reserves is part of a comprehensive national strategy to rehabilitate vegetation cover and allow wild plants to grow and reproduce naturally, thereby enhancing biodiversity and restoring balance to the Kingdom's ecosystems.
The importance of adhering to environmental regulations
These monitoring efforts are of paramount importance in light of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the "Saudi Green" initiative, which prioritize environmental protection and the development of vegetation cover. The Special Forces for Environmental Security serve as the executive arm to ensure the enforcement of regulations protecting plant and animal life from encroachments, whether through logging, overgrazing, or illegal hunting.
The Special Forces for Environmental Security urged all citizens and residents to cooperate in protecting the environment and to immediately report any instances of environmental or wildlife violations. Reports can be made by calling 911 in the Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, and 999 or 996 in the rest of the Kingdom. The forces emphasized that all reports will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
