Violators of environmental regulations in Riyadh and Medina were apprehended: penalties for grazing and logging
As part of ongoing efforts to protect vegetation and wildlife in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Special Forces for Environmental Security continued their intensive field campaigns to apprehend violators of the environmental system, and recently managed to detect and apprehend cases of violations in the Riyadh and Madinah regions, including overgrazing and illegal logging.
Details of the enforcement of grazing regulations in the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Reserve
The Special Forces for Environmental Security announced the arrest of a Sudanese resident in the Riyadh region for a clear violation of environmental regulations, specifically grazing livestock in prohibited areas. The violator was apprehended while grazing 40 camels within the boundaries of the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve.
The forces confirmed that the legal procedures were applied to the violator, stressing that the penalty for grazing camels in prohibited places is a fine of (500) riyals for each camel, which means that the total fine in this incident may reach 20,000 riyals, in confirmation of the strictness of the regulations in protecting the royal reserves, which are a fundamental pillar in the strategy to preserve biodiversity.
A shipment of local firewood was seized in Medina
In a related incident, and as part of efforts to combat illegal logging, field patrols of the forces in the Madinah region apprehended a citizen in possession of a large quantity of local firewood, amounting to (20) cubic meters. The necessary legal procedures were taken against him, and the seized quantities were handed over to the relevant authorities.
The authorities clarified the severe penalties related to this matter, stating that the penalty for using local firewood and charcoal in commercial activities is a fine of 32,000 riyals per cubic meter, while the penalty for transporting, selling, and storing local firewood and charcoal is 16,000 riyals per cubic meter. These penalties aim to curb the phenomenon of logging, which has led to the deterioration of vegetation cover and the desertification of vast areas over the past decades.
The importance of adhering to environmental regulations and the goals of Vision 2030
These enforcement measures are particularly important given the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's strategic focus on environmental protection within the framework of Vision 2030 and the "Green Saudi Arabia" initiative. These strict regulations aim to curb environmental violations that have depleted natural resources, with overgrazing and logging being among the leading causes of desertification in the region.
By imposing these penalties and intensifying monitoring, the concerned authorities seek to restore ecological balance, protect perennial trees such as acacia and tamarisk, and provide a safe environment for the reproduction of wildlife within nature reserves and property, thus enhancing the sustainability of resources for future generations.
Channels for reporting violations
The Special Forces for Environmental Security renewed their call to all citizens and residents to contribute to environmental protection by reporting any instances of environmental or wildlife violations. They explained that reports can be made by calling 911 in the Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, and 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom. They emphasized that all reports are treated with complete confidentiality and that the reporter bears no responsibility.
