Environmental security forces apprehend violators of environmental regulations in Riyadh and the Tuwaiq Reserve
As part of ongoing field efforts to enforce environmental regulations and protect natural resources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Special Forces for Environmental Security announced the arrest of a number of violators of the environmental system in the Riyadh region, as part of its intensive monitoring campaigns aimed at preserving vegetation cover and preventing unfair practices that harm the environmental balance.
Details of seizures and observed violations
Field patrols of the Special Forces for Environmental Security apprehended a citizen who violated environmental regulations by starting a fire in an unauthorized area within the Tuwaiq Nature Reserve . This act contravenes strict instructions prohibiting damage to the natural environment of protected areas. The necessary legal procedures were immediately applied to the violator upon his apprehension.
In a related incident, authorities detected another violation involving overgrazing. A citizen was apprehended for grazing 20 camels in prohibited areas within the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve . These reserves are of paramount environmental importance, and indiscriminate grazing is forbidden to ensure the regeneration of vegetation.
The seizures also included a violation related to logging, as a citizen in the Riyadh region was caught in possession of a cubic meter of local firewood, which is a clear violation of the environmental system that prohibits cutting or moving local trees in order to preserve their sustainability.
Legal penalties for environmental violations
The Special Forces for Environmental Security clarified the penalties for these violations in order to deter offenders, as follows:
- Penalty for starting a fire: A fine of up to (3,000) riyals for starting a fire in places other than those designated for it in forests and national parks.
- The penalty for overgrazing is a fine of (500) riyals for each camel that is grazed in prohibited areas.
- Penalty for transporting local firewood: A financial fine of up to (16,000) riyals for each cubic meter of local firewood or charcoal.
National context and the importance of environmental protection
These security efforts align with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the "Green Saudi Arabia" initiative, which prioritize environmental protection, vegetation development, and combating desertification. The Special Forces for Environmental Security play a pivotal role in safeguarding royal reserves and national parks from encroachment, contributing to the restoration of biodiversity and protecting ancient trees from illegal logging.
Adherence to environmental regulations is a national duty that contributes to improving the quality of life and preserving resources for future generations, as wrong practices such as overgrazing and logging lead to soil degradation and the loss of the natural vegetation cover that characterizes the Kingdom’s environment.
Ways to report 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. Reports can be made by calling 911 in the Makkah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, and by calling 999 or 996 in the rest of the Kingdom. The forces emphasized that all reports will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
