As part of ongoing field efforts to preserve the environmental wealth in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in implementation of the strict regulations established by the state to protect vegetation and natural resources, the Special Forces for Environmental Security announced the arrest of a number of violators of the environmental system in the Riyadh and Madinah regions, as part of its intensive inspection campaigns to deter practices harmful to nature.
Details of the seizure of soil erosion violations in Medina
Field patrols of the Special Forces for Environmental Security in the Madinah region apprehended an Indian resident for a blatant violation of environmental regulations. The violation involved the unauthorized extraction of sedimentary rock. The forces discovered that the violator was using heavy equipment to excavate and transport the soil, a clear transgression against the natural landscape and geological formation of the area. The equipment used in the excavation was confiscated, and the necessary legal procedures were completed before referring the violator to the appropriate authorities.
Violation of starting a fire in the Tuwaiq Reserve in Riyadh
In a related incident, authorities in the Riyadh region apprehended a citizen violating environmental regulations within the Tuwaiq Nature Reserve. The violation consisted of lighting a fire in an unauthorized area, a behavior that threatens the vegetation and could lead to uncontrollable fires, in addition to marring the overall appearance of the reserve, which is a significant natural and tourist destination. The necessary legal procedures were immediately applied to the citizen upon his apprehension.
The importance of preserving the environment and the goals of Vision 2030
These seizures come at a time when Saudi Arabia is giving unprecedented attention to environmental protection as part of its Vision 2030 and the Green Saudi Arabia initiative. Soil erosion is one of the most dangerous practices leading to desertification and loss of soil fertility, negatively impacting biodiversity. Furthermore, starting fires in undesignated areas poses a direct threat to the trees and shrubs that the country is striving to cultivate and propagate.
Legal penalties and reporting methods
The Special Forces for Environmental Security renewed their warnings to everyone about the need to comply with the regulations, stressing that the penalty for starting fires in forests or national parks in places not designated for them requires a financial fine of up to (3,000) Saudi Riyals, in addition to other penalties related to soil erosion and damage to natural resources.
The forces called on all citizens and residents to contribute to protecting the environment by immediately reporting any cases of attacks on vegetation or wildlife, by contacting the following numbers:
- (911): In the regions of Mecca, Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and Medina.
- (999) and (996) : in the rest of the regions of the Kingdom.
Security authorities confirmed that all reports are handled with complete confidentiality, without any responsibility falling on the reporter, in order to strengthen the principle of community partnership in preserving the nation’s environment.
