Environmental violations detected in Riyadh: Penalties for grazing and logging
The Special Forces for Environmental Security continued their intensive field efforts to protect vegetation and wildlife in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where they recently managed to apprehend a number of violators of the environmental system in the Riyadh region and a number of royal reserves, within the framework of the Kingdom’s strategy to preserve natural resources and ensure their sustainability.
Details of violations detected in nature reserves
In a targeted operation within the Tuwaiq Nature Reserve , authorities apprehended a citizen who violated regulations by starting a fire in an unauthorized area within the vegetation. This behavior threatens the safety of the natural environment and could cause widespread fires. The necessary legal procedures were applied to him, and it is worth noting that the penalty for starting a fire in forests and national parks outside designated areas is a fine of up to 3,000 riyals .
In a related incident, another citizen was apprehended in the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve for camping without the required permit, a violation of reserve regulations. Authorities clarified that the fine for camping without a permit is also 3,000 riyals, in order to ensure the regulation of human activities within protected areas.
Combating logging and overgrazing
The campaigns were not limited to the aforementioned violations, but also extended to combating local logging. A citizen in the Riyadh region was apprehended in possession of a cubic meter of locally sourced firewood. This violation is considered a serious environmental crime that depletes vegetation cover, and the penalty for transporting local firewood or charcoal is 16,000 riyals per cubic meter . The seized quantities were handed over to the relevant authorities.
The seizures also included violations related to overgrazing, with a citizen apprehended in the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve for grazing 30 camels in prohibited areas. Authorities confirmed that the penalty for illegal grazing is 500 riyals per camel , in order to protect wild plants from degradation.
National context and the importance of environmental protection
These intensified security efforts align with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the "Green Saudi Arabia" initiative, which aims to increase vegetation cover and combat desertification. The establishment of the Special Forces for Environmental Security and the creation of royal reserves are strategic steps aimed at restoring the ecological balance that has been damaged over decades by harmful practices such as illegal logging and unregulated grazing.
These measures are of paramount importance at both the local and regional levels, as preserving vegetation contributes to improving air quality, stabilizing soil, and protecting the unique biodiversity of the Arabian Peninsula. Furthermore, the strict enforcement of penalties enhances public awareness of the need to respect nature and establishes a sustainable environmental culture that ensures these resources remain available for future generations.
Violations reporting mechanism
The Special Forces for Environmental Security called on all citizens and residents to contribute to environmental protection by reporting any instances of damage to vegetation or wildlife. 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. The forces emphasized that all reports are treated with the utmost confidentiality.
