As part of ongoing efforts to protect vegetation and wildlife in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Special Forces for Environmental Security announced the implementation of new enforcement operations targeting violators of environmental regulations in a number of royal reserves, as part of its intensive field campaigns to monitor protected areas.
Details of the enforcement of local firewood transport violations
Field patrols of the Special Forces for Environmental Security apprehended a Saudi citizen and two Pakistani residents for violating environmental regulations by transporting local firewood within the boundaries of the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve. The forces determined that the seized quantity amounted to two cubic meters of firewood. The necessary legal procedures were taken against the violators, and the confiscated firewood was handed over to the relevant authorities.
In the context of raising awareness of penalties, the forces reiterated that the executive regulations of the environmental system stipulate strict penalties for tampering with vegetation cover, noting that the fine for transporting local firewood and charcoal reaches (16,000) riyals per cubic meter, in order to deter practices that harm the environmental balance.
Lighting a fire in unauthorized places is a violation
In a separate incident reflecting the comprehensive nature of environmental monitoring, authorities apprehended another citizen for violating regulations and guidelines concerning the preservation of vegetation in the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve. The violation consisted of lighting a fire in an unauthorized area, which poses a threat to the safety of forests and parks. Authorities confirmed that legal procedures were being applied to the individual, noting that the fine for this offense is 3,000 riyals.
National context and the importance of preserving the environment
These security efforts align with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the "Green Saudi Arabia" initiative, which prioritize protecting the natural environment and combating desertification. Illegal logging and the removal of local firewood are among the most significant challenges to the sustainability of vegetation cover in the Kingdom, as cutting down native trees (such as acacia and tamarisk) leads to soil degradation and biodiversity loss.
Royal reserves, such as the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Reserve and the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Reserve, play a pivotal role in the reintroduction of wildlife and the protection of wild plants from extinction, making adherence to regulations within them vital to ensuring nature's recovery.
Channels for reporting environmental violations
The Special Forces for Environmental Security called on all citizens and residents to contribute to environmental protection by immediately reporting any instances of damage to vegetation or wildlife. They explained that reports can be made by calling 911 in the Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, and by calling 999 or 996 in the rest of the Kingdom. They emphasized that all reports will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
