Defaulters of Tree Felling Policy in Saudi get up to $8m fine, 10yrs jail term
Saudi Arabia have taken a bold step in the combat against environmental vandalism, as defaulters of tree felling policy will get up to 30 million riyals (nearly $8m) in fines and 10 years in jail, a report by The New Arab website announced.
In a tweet Issued by the Saudi public prosecution this week, it said, “Cutting down trees, shrubs, herbs, or plans [and] uprooting, moving, stripping them of their bark, leaves or any part, or moving their soil”
Adding to the information, the report said the announcement is a part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 development plan to achieve environmental sustainability by the end of the decade.
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Environment Minister Abdulrahman al-Fadley last month announced a plan to plant 10 million trees across Saudi by April 2021 under the auspices of “Let’s Make it Green.”
Economic and social reforms have gained momentum since de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, announced his ambitious plan in 2016 to reduce the country’s heavy dependence on oil.
“We will seek to safeguard our environment by increasing the efficiency of waste management, establishing comprehensive recycling projects, reducing all types of pollution and fighting desertification,” reads Vision 2030’s mission statement.
