Environmental security apprehends a person for starting a fire in the city – penalty and details

The Special Forces for Environmental Security in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the arrest of a citizen in the Madinah region for a clear violation of the Environmental Law and its implementing regulations. The violation, which warranted the arrest, consisted of failing to adhere to instructions and guidelines for preserving vegetation cover. The citizen started a fire in an unauthorized area, which constitutes an encroachment on natural resources and necessitated the immediate application of legal measures against him.

Penalty for starting a fire in unauthorized places

In a related context, the Special Forces for Environmental Security emphasized that regulations in the Kingdom are strict regarding the protection of national parks and forests. They clarified that lighting fires in undesignated areas is a violation punishable by a fine of up to 3,000 Saudi Riyals . This strict enforcement aims to deter harmful practices that could damage green spaces or cause fires that disrupt the ecological balance.

The Kingdom's efforts in protecting vegetation cover

This security operation comes as part of the intensive efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Interior, represented by the Special Forces for Environmental Security, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the "Green Saudi Arabia" initiative. These efforts aim to protect and sustain the environment, reduce desertification, and work to restore natural vegetation cover that has deteriorated over decades due to overgrazing, logging, and indiscriminate burning.

The relevant authorities are working to instill environmental awareness in society, emphasizing that preserving the environment is a shared national responsibility. Wildlife areas and parks are considered natural treasures that must be preserved for future generations, and adherence to regulations contributes to promoting ecotourism and protecting the Kingdom's biodiversity.

Methods of reporting environmental violations

The Special Forces for Environmental Security called on all citizens and residents to cooperate with security authorities and immediately report any incidents of environmental or wildlife abuse. They clarified that communication channels are available around the clock to ensure a rapid response, via the following numbers:

• The number (911) is available in the following areas: Mecca, Medina, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province.
• The numbers (999) and (996) are used in the rest of the Kingdom's regions.

The forces confirmed that all reports are handled with complete confidentiality, without any legal responsibility being imposed on the informant, in order to encourage the community to actively participate in protecting the nation’s natural resources.