Seizure of locally sourced firewood for sale in Hail: Security efforts to protect vegetation
As part of ongoing security efforts to protect natural resources and enforce regulations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, patrols of the General Directorate of Mujahideen in the Hail region were able to apprehend a citizen who violated the environmental system, as he was found in possession of quantities of local firewood offered for sale, which is a clear violation of the executive regulations of the environmental system that prohibit logging and the sale of local tree products.
Details of the seizure and legal procedures
The relevant authorities explained that the operation was the result of meticulous field surveillance, during which the violator was identified in possession of locally sourced firewood prepared for sale. Initial legal procedures were immediately initiated against the offending citizen, and the seized goods were handed over to the competent authority to complete the necessary legal procedures. This step underscores the seriousness of the Ministry of Interior and its supporting security sectors in monitoring the marketing of locally sourced charcoal and firewood, whether within cities and governorates or on highways connecting regions, as well as monitoring the dissemination of this prohibited activity through unauthorized means on electronic platforms.
Context of environmental protection and combating desertification
This seizure is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a comprehensive national strategy adopted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to preserve vegetation and combat desertification. Since the launch of Vision 2030 and the announcement of the "Green Saudi Arabia" initiative, penalties and oversight of illegal logging have been intensified. This strict approach aims to halt land degradation and the loss of natural habitats, as cutting down native trees (such as acacia, tamarisk, and ghaf) is considered a direct threat to the ecological balance, given the difficulty these trees face in growing and their slow regeneration in arid desert environments.
Environmental and economic importance of preventing logging
Banning the sale of locally grown firewood has significant strategic implications; it contributes to reducing dust storms, lowering temperatures, and protecting the biodiversity of wildlife that depends on these trees. Instead of local firewood, authorities encourage the use of licensed imported alternatives, which are readily available in the market, thus ensuring that consumer needs are met without harming the local environment.
Methods of reporting environmental violations
The General Directorate of Mujahideen and the Ministry of Interior called upon all citizens and residents to cooperate with security and environmental authorities and to immediately report any instances of environmental or wildlife abuse. Reports can be made by calling the following numbers:
- 911: In the regions of Mecca, Medina, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province.
- 999 and 996 : in the rest of the Kingdom.
