Burning waste in places other than its designated places in forests and national parks is a violation and maximum fine of SR2000 will be imposed

The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture has issued a warning that burning rubbish in places other than permitted areas in forests and national parks is a violation punishable by a fine of up to SR2000. "The fine will be SR500 for the first offence, SR1000 for the second offence, and SR2000 for the third offence," the statement stated. The ministry announced that people who violate the law by lighting fires in places other than their allocated areas would face an SR1000 punishment. The fine will be SR2,000 for the second offence and SR3,000 for the third offence. This is in conformity with the Environmental Law's executive directives for increasing plant cover and preventing desertification.

The ministry issued a warning in a statement about the danger of fires breaking out in forests and vegetative areas during the summer's high temperatures. The ministry attributed the fire to a variety of causes, including burning agricultural waste, starting fires for cooking, shooting gunshots and arson to expand lands, using firecrackers, and throwing glass, which is affected by sunrays and causes fires to spread to large areas that are difficult to control and extinguish. The ministry urged picnickers, farmers, and workers in vegetation areas, farms, and pastures to exercise extreme caution, follow the guidelines, promote positive behaviours to protect the environment and improve the quality of life, and mitigate the negative effects of infringing activities and practises such as logging, overgrazing, burning trees, and other practises that cause land degradation and fire.

In order to maintain the environment, the ministry emphasised the need of preserving forests, national parks, and any plant cover locations, as well as avoiding injuring them by starting fires and depositing rubbish in places other than approved areas. It encouraged people to take part in the push to report fires in forests, national parks, and vegetative areas by dialling 911.

Farmers and breeders were urged by the ministry to contribute to the recycling of agricultural waste as organic fertilisers, to follow modern agricultural practises, and to take the necessary precautions and measures regarding agricultural residues and recycling methods in order to benefit society. It was highlighted that transforming agricultural waste into organic fertilisers has a favourable influence on the environment and helps to reduce fire causes.

The ministry emphasised the need of working to rehabilitate and develop degraded areas, safeguard forests and pastures from harmful practises, and adhere to safe hiking methods in order to conserve and sustain the Kingdom's valuable resources. The ministry stated that it works through its strategies, plans, and initiatives to achieve the highest levels of environmental preservation, sustainable management of nonrenewable natural resources, maximum utilisation of renewable resources, reliance on modern technologies, and raising the quality and efficiency of performance in all sectors.

According to the ministry, the National Environment Strategy comprised a complete review of all environmental components, including forests, pastures, animals, and the marine environment, as well as air quality and waste management. It is worth noting that in recent years, a series of forest fires ravaged the continents of North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, killing hundreds of people and destroying vast areas of green lands rich in biological diversity, as these fires were classified as among the world's worst environmental disasters.