Environmental violators apprehended in Riyadh and Mecca: Details of penalties
As part of ongoing field efforts to protect natural resources and ensure compliance with environmental regulations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Special Forces for Environmental Security that they have apprehended a number of violators of the environmental system in the Riyadh and Makkah regions, as part of their intensive inspection campaigns to monitor and control attacks on vegetation and wildlife.
Details of the seizures in Riyadh and the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Reserve
Field patrols of the forces in the Riyadh region apprehended a citizen violating environmental regulations by transporting three cubic meters of local firewood within the boundaries of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve . The relevant authorities have initiated legal proceedings against the violator, and the seized quantities have been impounded and handed over to the appropriate bodies. In this context, the forces reiterated their warning that transporting, selling, or storing local firewood and charcoal is a serious offense, with fines reaching 16,000 riyals per cubic meter, in order to deter anyone who might consider harming plant life.
Exploiting sediments and dredging soil in Mecca
In a related development, security forces continued their operations in the Makkah region, arresting seven residents of Pakistani and Yemeni nationalities for violating environmental regulations by illegally extracting sediment and dredging soil without a permit. The operation resulted in the seizure of three pieces of heavy equipment used in the dredging and transportation activities, and all necessary legal measures were taken against them.
National context and the importance of preserving the environment
These stringent security operations stem from the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which prioritizes environmental protection. Preserving vegetation and combating desertification are cornerstones of the "Green Saudi Arabia" initiative. The Special Forces for Environmental Security were established as a vital security arm for enforcing environmental regulations, aiming to halt the environmental degradation suffered by some areas due to illegal logging, soil erosion, and poaching.
The importance of these regulations lies in protecting the ecological balance, as excessive logging destroys natural habitats and increases desertification, negatively impacting air quality and biodiversity. Furthermore, soil erosion and the unregulated exploitation of sediments threaten the land's topography and watercourses, potentially causing long-term environmental damage that is difficult to remediate.
Reporting channels and social responsibility
The Special Forces for Environmental Security concluded their statement by calling on all citizens and residents to actively participate in protecting the environment by immediately reporting any instances of environmental or wildlife violations. They clarified that the available contact channels are 911 in the Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, and 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom, emphasizing that all reports are treated with complete confidentiality and without any legal liability for the reporter.
