As part of ongoing efforts to protect the natural resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Special Forces for Environmental Security announced that they had detected a number of environmental violations in the Riyadh region, as part of their intensive field campaigns to monitor compliance with the environmental system and its executive regulations.
Field patrols apprehended a citizen for violating environmental regulations by illegally grazing camels. Sixteen camels were found grazing in prohibited areas within the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal . The relevant authorities promptly implemented legal procedures against the violator, emphasizing that the penalty for grazing camels in prohibited areas is a fine of 500 riyals per camel, in order to deter violations that threaten vegetation.
Protecting meadows and gardens from tampering
In a related development, the forces continued their efforts to protect the natural parks, apprehending another citizen who violated regulations by driving his vehicle into the meadows and valleys belonging to the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve . The forces explained that this act constitutes a clear violation of environmental regulations, noting that the penalty for driving vehicles into protected natural meadows and valleys is a fine of up to 2,000 riyals, due to the damage caused by vehicle tires to the soil and the inhibition of seasonal plant growth.
National context for promoting environmental sustainability
These seizures come at a time when the Kingdom is intensifying its efforts to achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the "Green Saudi Arabia" initiative, which places great emphasis on protecting the natural environment, developing vegetation cover, and combating desertification. Royal reserves play a pivotal role in restoring ecological balance, as these vast areas have been designated as havens for wildlife and plants, necessitating strict enforcement of regulations against any practices that could disrupt this balance.
Special Forces for Environmental Security is the security arm responsible for enforcing environmental regulations in the Kingdom, as it works to monitor protected areas, forests and pastures to ensure that they are not violated, whether by overgrazing, logging, illegal hunting or tampering with the nature of the land by driving in undesignated areas.
The forces concluded their statement by urging all citizens and residents to recognize their national responsibility towards the environment and to immediately report any instances of environmental or wildlife abuse. They designated the number (911) for receiving reports in the Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, and the numbers (999) and (996) for the rest of the Kingdom, emphasizing that all reports will be treated with complete confidentiality and without any liability on the part of the reporter.
