Saudi Arabia imposes hefty fines on environmental violators

As part of its ongoing efforts to preserve natural resources and biodiversity, the Special Forces for Environmental Security in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the arrest of three citizens who committed clear violations of the environmental system in various regions, where the legal procedures were applied to them and deterrent financial fines were imposed that may reach 16,000 Saudi riyals for each violation.

Details of violations and applicable penalties

The violations that were detected included three different activities that harm vegetation and protected areas, and their details are as follows:

• Overgrazing in protected areas: A citizen was apprehended in the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve for grazing 24 camels in prohibited areas. Authorities confirmed that the penalty for this offense is 500 riyals per camel, bringing the total fine in this case to 12,000 riyals.
• Entering protected areas with vehicles: In the Imam Abdul Aziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve, another citizen was apprehended for driving his vehicle into the protected meadows and gardens, a practice that causes significant damage to the soil and vegetation. The penalty for this violation is up to 2,000 riyals .
• Transporting local firewood: In the Riyadh region, a third citizen was apprehended for transporting one cubic meter of local firewood, in violation of regulations prohibiting logging and its trade. Authorities clarified that the penalty for transporting local firewood is 16,000 riyals per cubic meter.

General context: Environmental protection within Vision 2030

These stringent measures are part of a strategic shift the Kingdom is undergoing in its approach to environmental issues, a key pillar of Saudi Vision 2030. The Vision aims to achieve environmental sustainability, combat desertification, and protect the unique biodiversity of the Arabian Peninsula. The Special Forces for Environmental Security were established in 2019 as the executive arm of the Ministry of Interior to enforce environmental regulations and monitor compliance around the clock.

The importance of royal reserves and environmental legislation

Royal reserves, such as the King Abdulaziz Reserve and the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Reserve, are massive national projects aimed at rehabilitating degraded ecosystems, reintroducing endangered wildlife, and developing vegetation cover. Preventing overgrazing and indiscriminate vehicle access directly contributes to the success of these efforts and preserves natural resources for future generations. Legislation prohibiting logging is also of paramount importance, especially in light of major initiatives like the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to plant billions of trees to combat climate change.

A call for social responsibility

The Special Forces for Environmental Security reiterated their call to all citizens and residents to report any instances of environmental or wildlife violations. This can be done by calling 911 in the Makkah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, or 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom. The Forces emphasized that all reports are treated with the utmost seriousness and confidentiality.