Environmental violations detected in Asir and Tuwaiq: Strict fines and penalties
As part of ongoing efforts to protect natural resources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Special Forces for Environmental Security announced that they were able to apprehend a citizen who violated the environmental regulations in the Asir region, after he was spotted in a video circulating online offering wild animals for sale without obtaining the necessary licenses. All legal procedures were completed against him and he was referred to the competent authorities.
Details of penalties and fines
The Special Forces for Environmental Security emphasized the need for strict adherence to the Environmental Law and its implementing regulations, which aim to protect biodiversity in the Kingdom. The Forces explained that the regulations stipulate deterrent penalties for violators, with a fine of 20,000 Saudi Riyals for displaying captured wildlife without a license, while the penalty for hunting the rock hyrax specifically reaches a fine of 25,000 Riyals. This is to ensure that these creatures are not depleted and to maintain ecological balance.
The context of environmental protection and the Kingdom's Vision 2030
These seizures align with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which prioritizes environmental protection and natural resource management through the "Green Saudi Arabia" initiative and the establishment of royal and natural reserves. The Special Forces for Environmental Security serve as a vital security arm for enforcing environmental regulations. Preserving wildlife and preventing poaching or illegal trafficking of living organisms are fundamental pillars for the sustainability of the ecosystem for future generations and for preventing the extinction of rare species that abound in the Kingdom's environment.
A fire was started in the Tuwaiq Reserve
In a related development concerning efforts to protect vegetation, the Special Forces for Environmental Security apprehended another citizen for violating environmental regulations in the Tuwaiq Nature Reserve. The violation consisted of lighting a fire in an unauthorized area, a practice that threatens the integrity of the vegetation and could cause fires that harm the reserve's natural environment. The forces confirmed that the necessary legal procedures were applied to the violator, noting that the penalty for lighting fires in unauthorized areas within forests and national parks is a fine of up to 3,000 riyals.
Digital censorship and reporting channels
The Special Forces for Environmental Security confirmed that they possess an advanced monitoring system to track what is published on social media platforms regarding environmental violations, stressing that they will not hesitate to take legal action against anyone who violates the executive regulations of the environmental system, given the direct harm that these violations cause to natural resources.
The forces called on all citizens and residents to participate in community responsibility by reporting any instances of environmental or wildlife abuse. Reports can be made by calling 911 in the Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, and 999 or 996 in the rest of the Kingdom. They emphasized that all reports will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
