Violations related to grazing, camping, and transporting firewood in nature reserves and parks have been addressed
As part of ongoing efforts to protect vegetation and wildlife in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Special Forces for Environmental Security continued their intensive field campaigns to apprehend violators of the environmental system and its related executive regulations, where a number of violations were detected and apprehended in various areas, including royal reserves and the Riyadh region.
Enforcement of grazing violations in the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Reserve
Field patrols of the Special Forces for Environmental Security apprehended a citizen who violated environmental regulations by grazing (20) camels in prohibited grazing areas within the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve . Legal procedures were immediately applied to the violator upon his apprehension.
The forces confirmed in their statement that protecting the royal reserves is a top priority to ensure the restoration of biodiversity, noting that the penalty for grazing camels in prohibited areas is a fine of (500) riyals for each camel, making the total expected fine in this case reach 10,000 riyals, in order to deter encroachments on protected areas that are witnessing growth in vegetation cover.
Camping violations in the King Abdulaziz Reserve
In a related incident, authorities apprehended another citizen for camping without a permit within the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve . These arrests underscore the importance of adhering to regulations aimed at organizing ecotourism and preventing unregulated activities that harm the soil and natural environment.
The forces explained that the penalty for camping in forests, national parks or reserves without a license entails a financial fine of up to (3,000) riyals, stressing the importance of obtaining the necessary permits through official platforms before starting any camping activity.
Combating illegal logging and transporting local firewood
Regarding the protection of native trees from encroachment, authorities in the Riyadh region apprehended a Yemeni resident for violating environmental regulations by transporting two cubic meters of local firewood. Legal procedures were applied to him, and the seized quantities were handed over to the relevant authorities.
The violations of logging and transporting local firewood are considered serious violations for which penalties are increased, as the forces explained that the penalty for transporting local firewood and charcoal reaches (16,000) riyals per cubic meter, within the framework of the Kingdom’s endeavor to preserve what remains of the tree cover and combat desertification.
The importance of compliance with environmental regulations and the goals of Vision 2030
These field efforts are consistent with the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative and the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which places great importance on protecting the natural environment. Royal reserves were established by royal decree to serve as natural reservoirs of biodiversity and to curb overgrazing and logging, which have led to the degradation of vegetation cover for decades.
The Special Forces for Environmental Security act as the executive arm for enforcing environmental regulations, as controlling these violations contributes to the recovery of natural lands, the return of endangered wildlife, and the promotion of sustainable ecotourism.
Channels for reporting violations
The Special Forces for Environmental Security called on all citizens and residents to cooperate in protecting the environment by reporting any incidents of environmental or wildlife abuse. Reports can be made via the following numbers:
- The number (911) is available in the regions of 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 and without any liability on the part of the reporter.
