Latest news with #SpecialForcesforEnvironmentalSecurity
Arab News
03-04-2025
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia cracks down on environmental violators
RIYADH: The Special Forces for Environmental Security has arrested two Saudis and six expatriates from India, Pakistan, and Yemen for illegally exploiting sedimentary deposits in the Makkah region. Authorities also seized five soil excavation machines, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday. In a separate case, a Saudi national was apprehended for grazing 12 camels in restricted areas of the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, and faces a fine of SR500 ($133) per camel. A citizen was arrested in the Eastern Province for setting fires on vegetated land, an offense with a penalty of up to SR3,000. Three citizens were detained for cutting protective fencing and unauthorized entry into the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve. Fines for fence damage can reach SR100,000, plus compensation, while unauthorized entry carries a SR5,000 fine. A citizen in Riyadh was caught with two cubic meters of local firewood for commercial use. Fines for using local firewood and charcoal commercially can reach SR32,000 per cubic meter, while transporting, selling, or storing carries fines of up to SR16,000. Environmental forces also arrested a Nigerian resident in Makkah for burning waste, damaging soil, and polluting the environment. Penalties for such activities can reach up to SR10 million. Another citizen faces a fine of up to SR3,000 for unauthorized camping in the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve. Action has been taken against the violators, and they have been handed over to the relevant authorities. Citizens are urged to report environmental violations by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 and 996 elsewhere in the Kingdom.
Arab News
06-03-2025
- Arab News
Crackdown on environmental offenders in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: The Special Forces for Environmental Security in Saudi Arabia took action in three separate incidents of environmental law infringement, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The forces apprehended two citizens for environmental offences after they cut protective fencing and entered the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve without proper permits. The authorities have implemented statutory procedures against the offenders and referred them to the authorities. In a separate incident, authorities arrested a Sudanese resident for environmental offences in the Makkah region, where he was caught burning waste illegally, causing soil pollution and environmental damage. Legal measures were taken against him before referring his case to the authorities. Authorities also intercepted a Saudi citizen transporting one cubic meter of locally harvested firewood in the Riyadh region. Standard legal procedures were applied, and the confiscated materials were handed over to the relevant authorities. According to official statements, penalties for cutting or damaging fences in protected areas can reach SR100,000 ($26,665), with offenders required to repair damages and pay compensation.
Asharq Al-Awsat
04-03-2025
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve Welcomes Fifth Ranger Corps
On World Wildlife Day, observed annually on March 3, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve officially welcomed its fifth ranger corps after their successful graduation from the reserve's nine-week training program. The new recruits, 40 women and 26 men, all from local communities within the reserve, join the existing ranger team of 180 to further the reserve's conservation work. Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve is home to the Middle East's first, and largest, female ranger corps. Of the 246 rangers at the reserve, 34% are women, well above the global average of 11%, SPA reported. Reserve CEO Andrew Zaloumis said, "Our rangers at Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve are pivotal to us achieving the reserve's vision and mission. These local people, from across the reserve, know its land, its flora and fauna, and its communities. They are the natural guardians of the Kingdom's rich natural and cultural heritage." Over 18,000 applications were received. Candidates underwent written and physical tests and multiple interviews to win a coveted place on the reserve's ranger training program. Run by Ali Albalawi, the reserve's capacity building and sustainable natural resource use supervisor, the nine-week program provides the essential skills required to join the ranger corps. Modules include conservation management, data collection, patrolling, cultural heritage management, tracking, fitness, self-defense, first aid and 4x4 driving. Albalawi commented: "I take great pride in training rangers from the local community in Prince Mohammad bin Salman Reserve. When the protector comes from the same place, there is a profound sense of responsibility towards the nature they know and cherish, making them more capable of protecting and conserving it. These rangers are not just trained to perform specific tasks — they are true ambassadors of nature, and I am honored to be part of fostering this spirit that connects people to their land and their role in conserving it for future generations." The 66 new rangers will join the 180-strong ranger force, working alongside Special Forces for Environmental Security and the Border Guard to safeguard the natural and cultural assets of the Reserve, both on land and at sea. Their duties include ecological monitoring to inform conservation strategies, supporting animal reintroductions, managing wildlife populations, and overseeing development projects to ensure compliance with environmental and social impact assessments. The reserve invests in its people long-term, with ongoing training and career development opportunities. Rangers can rise throug
Arab News
03-03-2025
- General
- Arab News
Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve welcomes recruits to fifth ranger corps
RIYADH: The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve has welcomed 40 women and 26 men to its fifth ranger corps. They were recruited from local communities following their successful graduation from the reserve's nine-week training program, and will join the existing ranger team of 180 to help in conservation work. Andrew Zaloumis, the CEO at the reserve, said the rangers were pivotal in helping achieve the body's mission. He said: 'These local people, from across the reserve, know its land, its flora and fauna and its communities. They are the natural guardians of the Kingdom's rich natural and cultural heritage.' The reserve received 18,000 applications and candidates underwent written and physical tests and multiple interviews to win a coveted place on the ranger training program. Run by Ali Al-Balawi, the nine-week program provides the skills required to join the ranger corps. Modules include conservation management, data collection, patrolling, cultural heritage management, tracking, fitness, self-defense, first aid and 4x4 driving. Al-Balawi said: 'I take great pride in training rangers from the local community at Prince Mohammed bin Salman Reserve. 'When the protector comes from the same place, there is a profound sense of responsibility towards the nature they know and cherish, making them more capable of protecting and conserving it. 'These rangers are not just trained to perform specific tasks — they are true ambassadors of nature, and I am honored to be part of fostering this spirit that connects people to their land and their role in conserving it for future generations.' The 66 new recruits will join the 180-strong ranger force, working alongside the Special Forces for Environmental Security and the Border Guard to safeguard the natural and cultural assets of the reserve — both on land and at sea. Their duties will include ecological monitoring to inform conservation strategies; supporting animal reintroductions; managing wildlife populations; and overseeing development projects to ensure compliance with environmental and social impact assessments. The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve is home to the Middle East's first female ranger corps. Of the 246 rangers, 34 percent are women. The objectives of the royal reserves are to support the Kingdom's efforts in sustainability and environmental conservation, contributing to the Saudi Green Initiative's goal of protecting 30 percent of the Kingdom's terrestrial and marine areas by 2030. One of eight royal reserves, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve stretches from the lava plains of the Harrats to the Red Sea in the west, connecting NEOM, Red Sea Global, and AlUla. It is home to PIF's Wadi Al-Disah project and Red Sea Global's destination AMAALA. The reserve includes 15 distinct ecosystems. At just 1 percent of the Kingdom's terrestrial area and 1.8 percent of its marine area, it boasts over 50 percent of the Kingdom's species, making it one of the most biodiverse protected areas in the Middle East. The reserve is committed to restoring and conserving the natural and cultural environment, including the reintroduction of 23 native species — including the Arabian leopard, cheetah, Arabian oryx and lappet-faced vulture — as part of a wide-ranging rewilding program. The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve was established by royal decree and is overseen by the Royal Reserves Council, which is chaired by the crown prince. Its program is integrated with Saudi Arabia's wider sustainability and conservation schemes, including the Saudi and Middle East Green Initiatives.
