Environmental security forces in Riyadh arrest 16 violators: details of penalties
As part of ongoing efforts to protect natural resources and maintain environmental balance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Special Forces for Environmental Security to apprehend (16) violators of the environmental system in separate incidents in the Riyadh region, as part of their intensive field campaigns to monitor and apprehend violations against the environment.
Details of the arrest of those violating soil erosion regulations
The Special Forces for Environmental Security announced the arrest of 15 residents of Pakistani, Indian, Ethiopian, and Yemeni nationalities involved in the unlicensed exploitation of sediment in the Riyadh region. The forces explained that field operations resulted in the seizure of 23 pieces of heavy equipment used in dredging and transporting soil, a clear violation of the Kingdom's environmental regulations. Legal procedures were applied to all violators, and they were referred to the competent authorities.
Violations of vegetation cover in the Tuwaiq Reserve
In a related incident, authorities apprehended a citizen in the Tuwaiq Nature Reserve by failing to comply with instructions regarding the preservation of vegetation. The violation consisted of lighting fires in undesignated areas, a practice that threatens the safety of the natural environment and could lead to fires that harm wildlife and plant life. Authorities confirmed that the necessary legal procedures were applied to the offending citizen.
Sanctions and environmental regulations
The Special Forces for Environmental Security emphasized that lighting fires in undesignated areas within forests and national parks is a serious violation, punishable by a fine of up to 3,000 Saudi Riyals. These penalties aim to deter harmful practices that negatively impact the Kingdom's efforts to develop vegetation cover and combat desertification.
The importance of environmental security and Vision 2030
These efforts are of paramount importance within the framework of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 , which prioritizes environmental protection through initiatives such as the “Saudi Green Initiative.” The Special Forces for Environmental Security serve as the enforcement arm to ensure the implementation of regulations and laws that prevent soil erosion, which leads to land degradation and biodiversity loss, as well as to prevent logging and indiscriminate fires that deplete vegetation cover.
Through these strict measures, the Kingdom seeks to enhance public awareness of the importance of preserving natural resources for future generations, and to ensure the sustainability of the local environment and protect it from unfair encroachments, whether commercial or individual.
Channels for reporting violations
The Special Forces for Environmental Security called on all citizens and residents to cooperate in protecting the environment by reporting any incidents of environmental or wildlife abuse. 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 are treated with the utmost confidentiality.
