Environmental violations detected in Tuwaiq Reserve and Royal Reserves
As part of ongoing field efforts to protect the environment and preserve natural resources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Special Forces for Environmental Security announced a series of enforcement operations targeting violators of the environmental system in a number of natural and royal reserves, as part of a comprehensive strategy to deter encroachments on vegetation cover and wildlife.
A fire was started in the Tuwaiq Reserve
The Special Forces for Environmental Security apprehended a citizen who violated environmental regulations by starting a fire in an unauthorized area within the Tuwaiq Nature Reserve . This action was taken in accordance with strict instructions aimed at protecting the reserve's components from fires and environmental degradation. The necessary legal procedures were immediately applied to the violator upon his apprehension.
In this context, the forces renewed their warnings that lighting fires in places not designated for them in forests and national parks is a clear violation that warrants a financial penalty of up to (3,000) riyals , stressing the need to follow sound environmental behaviors while picnicking.
The Kingdom's efforts in protecting vegetation cover and combating desertification
These seizures are particularly important given the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's strategic direction towards enhancing environmental sustainability, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030 and the "Saudi Green" initiative. The relevant authorities are striving to halt illegal logging and unregulated grazing, which are among the most prominent causes of desertification and soil degradation in the region. The Special Forces for Environmental Security act as the executive arm to ensure the implementation of the environmental regulations, thus contributing to the restoration of biodiversity in royal and national reserves.
Violations related to the transport of firewood and overgrazing in royal reserves
The inspection campaigns extended to other areas, where another citizen was apprehended for transporting four cubic meters of local firewood within the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve . Authorities clarified that transporting local firewood and charcoal is a serious offense, with fines reaching 16,000 riyals per cubic meter. The seized quantities were handed over to the relevant authorities.
Field patrols also detected a violation of overgrazing committed by a citizen in the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve , involving the grazing of (25) camels in prohibited areas. The authorities confirmed that the penalty for grazing camels in prohibited areas is a fine of (500) riyals per camel, in order to protect wild plants and small shrubs from damage.
Camping without a permit and reporting mechanism
In a related incident, authorities apprehended a citizen for violating regulations by camping without a permit in the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve . The authorities indicated that unauthorized camping in forests or national parks is punishable by a fine of up to 3,000 riyals .
The Special Forces for Environmental Security concluded their statement by urging citizens and residents to cooperate in protecting the environment and to report any instances of environmental or wildlife violations. Reports can be submitted by calling 911 in the Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, and 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom. The statement emphasized that all reports will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
