Grazing violations detected in the Imam Abdulaziz Royal Reserve | Saudi Arabia News
The Special Forces for Environmental Security announced the arrest of a Saudi citizen for violating environmental regulations by grazing camels in prohibited areas within the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve. The forces stated that the violation involved grazing 50 camels and confirmed that the necessary legal procedures were applied to him.
General context and environmental protection efforts
This step comes as part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s intensive efforts to protect and develop its natural environment, a cornerstone of its Vision 2030 and ambitious initiatives such as the Saudi Green Initiative. The Royal Reserves, established by royal decree in 2018, represent a cornerstone of this strategy, aiming to preserve the Kingdom’s unique biodiversity, rehabilitate damaged ecosystems, and prevent harmful practices such as overgrazing, logging, and illegal hunting.
The importance of the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve
The Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve is located in the Riyadh region and is distinguished by its natural diversity, which includes lush meadows such as Rawdat Khuraim and Rawdat Tanhat. Protecting these areas from unregulated activities like overgrazing is crucial, as excessive grazing leads to vegetation degradation, soil erosion, and increased desertification risks, negatively impacting the entire ecosystem and its ability to recover, and threatening the survival of many wildlife species that depend on this environment.
Details of penalties and multiple violations
The Special Forces for Environmental Security confirmed that the penalty for grazing camels in prohibited areas is a fine of 500 Saudi Riyals per head. In a related incident, the forces also apprehended other violators within the reserve, including a citizen who drove his vehicle into protected meadows and depressions, an offense punishable by a fine of 2,000 Riyals. Additionally, a Pakistani resident in the Asir region was apprehended for illegally extracting sediment and excavating soil, and the equipment used in the violation was confiscated. These strict measures reflect the authorities' commitment to enforcing environmental regulations without exception.
A call for social responsibility
The forces reiterated their call for citizens and residents to report any instances of environmental or wildlife violations. They can contact the authorities via the designated numbers (911) in the Makkah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, and (999) and (996) in the rest of the Kingdom. The forces emphasized that preserving the environment is a shared responsibility requiring the concerted efforts of official bodies and members of society to ensure the sustainability of natural resources for future generations.
