The Special Forces for Environmental Security in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the arrest of a citizen for grazing in the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve , as part of ongoing efforts to protect vegetation and wildlife. The citizen was apprehended along with 20 camels in prohibited grazing areas within the reserve. Authorities confirmed that legal procedures were applied to him in accordance with the Environmental Law, noting that the penalty for grazing camels in prohibited areas is a fine of 500 riyals per camel.
Establishment of Royal Reserves and the Kingdom's Environmental Vision
These stringent measures are an extension of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which places great importance on the environment. Historically, many natural areas in the Arabian Peninsula have suffered from overgrazing and indiscriminate logging, leading to a significant decline in vegetation cover and the disappearance of some wildlife species. To address these environmental challenges, royal decrees established the Royal Reserves Council, with the aim of reintroducing endangered animals and plants, restoring the natural ecological balance that had prevailed for decades, and developing sustainable ecotourism.
The positive impact of protecting the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve and other reserves
Preserving the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve and strictly enforcing environmental laws is of paramount importance and has a positive impact at the local, regional, and international levels. Locally, preventing overgrazing contributes to land recovery, soil stabilization, and a reduction in sandstorms, which positively affects quality of life and public health. Regionally and internationally, these steps highlight the Kingdom as a leading model in the Middle East in combating desertification and climate change, aligning with the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative and the Green Middle East Initiative, thus reinforcing Saudi Arabia's commitment to international environmental treaties and ensuring sustainability for future generations.
Ongoing security efforts to apprehend violators of environmental regulations
In a related context, environmental protection efforts have not been limited to grazing violations, but have also included various other offenses. The Special Forces for Environmental Security apprehended two citizens for violating environmental regulations by entering the King Salman Royal Reserve without a permit. Legal procedures were initiated against them, and they were referred to the relevant authorities. The forces clarified that the fine for entering protected areas without prior authorization is 5,000 riyals.
The inspection campaigns also resulted in the apprehension of another citizen for transporting a cubic meter of local firewood within the Imam Faisal bin Turki Royal Reserve. The seized quantities were handed over to the relevant authorities, and the applicable legal penalties were imposed. The penalty for transporting local firewood and charcoal reaches 16,000 riyals per cubic meter, underscoring the firm stance against the phenomenon of illegal logging, which destroys ancient trees and harms the environment.
Methods for reporting environmental violations
Keen to involve the community in protecting the nation's natural resources, the Special Forces for Environmental Security urged all citizens and residents to report any instances of environmental or wildlife violations. Reports can be easily submitted by calling 911 in the Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions. In the rest of the Kingdom, the numbers 999 and 996 can be used. Security authorities emphasized that all reports will be treated with complete confidentiality, without imposing any legal liability on the reporter, in recognition of the importance of community involvement in maintaining a healthy and sustainable environment.
