Environmental security forces in Riyadh apprehend a violator for illegally transporting local firewood, imposing strict penalties
As part of ongoing field efforts to protect vegetation and combat environmentally harmful practices, the Special Forces for Environmental Security announced that they had apprehended a citizen in the Riyadh region for violating the environmental regulations by transporting quantities of prohibited local firewood.
The authorities explained in their official statement that the violator was apprehended in possession of two cubic meters of locally sourced firewood, a clear violation of the executive regulations of the Environmental Law in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The necessary legal procedures were immediately implemented against the offending citizen, and the seized quantities were handed over to the relevant authorities to complete the required actions in accordance with the established legal frameworks.
The context of environmental protection and the Kingdom's Vision 2030
This security operation comes within a broader context reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's unwavering commitment to protecting its natural resources, which aligns directly with the objectives of Vision 2030 and the Green Saudi Arabia initiative. The wise leadership has given unprecedented attention to environmental issues, criminalizing illegal logging and the removal of local firewood due to the depletion of natural resources and the destruction of vegetation cover, which is the first line of defense against desertification and dust storms.
The establishment of the Special Forces for Environmental Security is a crucial strategic step in enforcing the rule of law in wilderness areas and protected reserves. These forces act as a shield for nature, ensuring the sustainability of resources for future generations. Banning the transport and sale of local firewood is not merely a punitive measure, but an urgent environmental necessity to restore ecological balance in the Kingdom's desert environments, which suffer from fragile ecosystems and the slow growth of mature trees.
Deterrent penalties and the importance of community awareness
In the context of raising awareness about penalties, the Special Forces for Environmental Security reiterated their warning that any disregard for environmental regulations will be met with firm action, noting that the penalty for transporting local firewood and charcoal is a fine of up to 16,000 riyals per cubic meter. These hefty fines aim to deter violators and curb the phenomenon of illegal logging, which has threatened the extinction of rare local tree species.
The forces concluded their statement by calling on citizens and residents to be partners in protecting the environment, urging everyone to report any instances of environmental or wildlife violations. 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 whatsoever.
