The Special Forces for Environmental Security announced the arrest of a citizen in the Riyadh region for violating environmental regulations by possessing and transporting approximately two cubic meters of locally sourced firewood. Legal procedures were implemented against the violator, and the seized firewood was handed over to the relevant authorities at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
Ongoing efforts to protect the environment within the framework of Vision 2030
This incident is not an isolated event, but rather part of a comprehensive and ongoing national campaign to enforce environmental regulations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These efforts fall within the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which places environmental sustainability and the protection of natural resources at the heart of its priorities. The Special Forces for Environmental Security were established in 2019 as the executive arm of the Ministry of Interior, with the aim of monitoring and controlling environmental violations, preventing attacks on wildlife and vegetation, and combating illegal logging that threatens the Kingdom's fragile desert ecosystems.
Environmental importance of combating illegal logging
Unregulated logging poses a serious threat to the Kingdom's vegetation cover, which plays a vital role in combating desertification, stabilizing sand dunes, and preserving biodiversity. Native trees such as acacia, tamarisk, and ghaf not only provide habitat for living organisms but also contribute to improving air quality and moderating the local climate. The indiscriminate removal of these trees leads to land degradation, increased dust storms, and the loss of invaluable natural resources, negatively impacting quality of life and long-term environmental security.
Deterrent penalties and community awareness
To deter these harmful practices, the executive regulations of the Environmental Law have imposed strict penalties. The authorities clarified that the penalty for transporting local firewood and charcoal is a fine of up to 16,000 Saudi Riyals per cubic meter. These high fines aim to make illegal activities economically unviable. In addition to enforcement, the relevant authorities are working to raise public awareness about the importance of environmental conservation. The authorities urged citizens and residents to immediately report any instances of environmental or wildlife violations by calling the designated numbers: 911 in the Makkah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, and 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom. They emphasized that the identity of those reporting will be kept confidential.
