As part of ongoing efforts to protect the environment and enforce regulations aimed at preserving natural resources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Special Forces for Environmental Security announced the apprehension of several individuals violating environmental regulations in the Riyadh and Madinah regions. These operations are part of a series of stringent measures designed to deter practices harmful to vegetation and wildlife, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative.
In the Riyadh region, authorities apprehended a citizen who violated environmental regulations by grazing 22 camels in the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, an area where grazing is prohibited to preserve biodiversity and rehabilitate vegetation. Legal procedures were applied to the violator, with the penalty for grazing camels in prohibited areas being 500 riyals per camel.
Another citizen was apprehended in the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve in Riyadh for starting a fire in an unauthorized area. This violation is considered a dangerous practice that threatens the safety of national parks and forests, as it can cause widespread fires that are difficult to control. Authorities clarified that the penalty for this act could reach a fine of 3,000 riyals.
The general context of environmental protection efforts
The Special Forces for Environmental Security were established in 2019 as a security sector under the Ministry of Interior, with the aim of enforcing environmental regulations and monitoring and addressing violations that threaten the environment. These forces work to protect protected areas, combat illegal logging, poaching, unregulated grazing, and other activities that harm natural resources. These efforts are an integral part of the Kingdom's national transformation, which places environmental sustainability at the heart of its priorities.
The importance of preserving royal reserves
Royal reserves, established by royal decree, represent a cornerstone of the Kingdom's strategy to protect and restore its unique ecosystems. These reserves aim to reintroduce endangered animals, develop natural vegetation, and combat desertification. The strict enforcement of regulations within these reserves ensures the achievement of their environmental and developmental objectives and strengthens the Kingdom's position as a key player on the international stage in environmental conservation.
In a related incident, authorities in the Madinah region apprehended a Pakistani resident for illegally extracting sediment and dredging soil. Equipment used in the operation was confiscated, and legal action was taken against the violator. Dredging negatively impacts soil fertility and increases the risk of erosion and flash floods.
The Special Forces for Environmental Security renewed its call to citizens and residents to immediately report any cases that constitute an attack on the environment or wildlife by calling the number (911) in the regions of Makkah, Riyadh, the Eastern Province and Madinah, or the numbers (999) and (996) in the rest of the regions of the Kingdom, stressing that all reports will be treated with complete confidentiality.
