Environmental security forces crack down on grazing and logging violations in Riyadh and Medina
As part of ongoing efforts to protect natural resources and ensure the sustainability of vegetation cover in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Special Forces for Environmental Security announced the arrest of a number of violators of the environmental system in various regions, including violations of overgrazing, transporting local firewood, and lighting fires in places not designated for them.
Controlling grazing violations in royal reserves
Field patrols of the Special Forces for Environmental Security apprehended a citizen who violated environmental regulations by grazing 36 camels in prohibited grazing areas within the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal . Legal procedures were applied to the violator in accordance with the executive regulations of the Environmental Law.
The importance of protecting these royal reserves stems from their vital role in restoring ecological balance, protecting wild plants from extinction, and providing a safe haven for wildlife. Overgrazing is one of the most significant threats facing the Kingdom's vegetation, leading to soil degradation and increased desertification. The authorities clarified that the penalty for grazing camels in prohibited areas is a fine of 500 riyals per camel.
Combating illegal logging and transporting local firewood
In a related incident, authorities in the Riyadh region apprehended another citizen for transporting five cubic meters of locally sourced firewood, a clear violation of environmental regulations that prohibit cutting down or transporting trees for commercial purposes. The seized quantities were handed over to the relevant authorities, and the violator will face legal penalties.
The Kingdom is intensifying its penalties in this regard to curb the phenomenon of illegal logging, which has depleted vegetation cover for decades. Authorities confirmed that the penalty for transporting local firewood and charcoal is a hefty fine of 16,000 riyals per cubic meter, in order to deter violators and protect the remaining tree cover that contributes to moderating the climate and combating dust storms.
Compliance with environmental regulations in parks
Security campaigns also targeted the Medina region, where a citizen was apprehended for violating regulations and guidelines regarding the preservation of vegetation by starting fires in unauthorized areas. Authorities indicated that the penalty for this act in forests and national parks is a fine of up to 3,000 riyals, given the risk of fires, the damage it causes to the landscape, and the harm it inflicts on the soil.
The importance of environmental awareness and reporting
These seizures come as a culmination of the Kingdom’s efforts to activate environmental monitoring within the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 Saudi Green Initiative , which aims to develop vegetation cover and combat desertification.
The Special Forces for Environmental Security called on all citizens and residents to cooperate in protecting the environment and to report any cases that constitute an attack on the environment or wildlife by calling the number (911) in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and the numbers (999) and (996) in the rest of the regions of the Kingdom, stressing that all reports are treated with complete confidentiality.
