Environmental security forces uncover violations in the King Abdulaziz Reserve in Riyadh

The Special Forces for Environmental Security continued their intensive field efforts to protect the natural resources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where they were able to apprehend a number of violators of the environmental system in the Riyadh region, as part of their ongoing efforts to enforce environmental regulations and preserve the vegetation cover in the royal reserves.

Details of enforcement of overgrazing regulations

In the first incident, the Special Forces for Environmental Security apprehended a citizen who violated environmental regulations by grazing camels in prohibited areas within the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve . The forces explained that the violation involved grazing 16 camels in locations where grazing is prohibited to preserve biodiversity.

The legal procedures were applied to the violator, as the forces confirmed that the executive regulations of the environmental system clearly stipulate that the penalty for grazing camels in prohibited places is a financial fine of (500) riyals for each camel, which confirms the firmness of the concerned authorities in applying fines to deter violations of protected areas.

Penalties for vehicles entering meadows and gardens

In a related incident, authorities apprehended another citizen for violating regulations by driving his vehicle into the meadows and desert areas within the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve . This action aims to curb harmful practices that lead to soil degradation and the destruction of vegetation.

The forces indicated that the penalty for vehicles entering protected wild meadows and gardens is (2,000) riyals, as these practices cause the trampling of plants and hinder their natural growth, as well as distorting the general appearance of wild areas.

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. Royal reserves, such as the King Abdulaziz Reserve and the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Reserve, are cornerstones of the Kingdom’s strategy to restore ecological balance and protect endangered wildlife.

Overgrazing and the indiscriminate entry of vehicles into desert areas pose one of the greatest challenges to the desert environment, leading to soil erosion, increased dust storms, and biodiversity loss. Therefore, the Environmental Security Special Forces act as a bulwark to ensure the sustainability of these resources for future generations.

Channels for reporting violations

The Special Forces for Environmental Security called on all citizens and residents to contribute to environmental protection by immediately reporting any incidents of environmental or wildlife abuse. Reports can be made via the following numbers:

• The number (911) is used in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province.
• The numbers (999) and (996) are used in the rest of the Kingdom's regions.

The security authorities confirmed that all reports are handled with complete confidentiality, without any responsibility on the part of the reporter, in order to reinforce the principle of social responsibility in preserving the nation’s environment.