Article 13 of the Saudi Environment Law
المادة 13 من نظام البيئة · الفصل الثالث: أراضي الغطاء النباتي
The article provides for establishing national, wilderness and geological parks by decision of the Minister on land free of private rights, and allows the competent authority to invest in them and regulate that investment.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تنشأ -بقرار من الوزير- المنتزهات الوطنية والبرية والجيولوجية على أرض غير مملوكة ملكية خاصة وليس لأحد عليها حق اختصاص أو حجز أو امتياز. وفي حالة وجود أي من ذلك، تُعدل خارطة المنتزه المقترح، أو يُختار بديل عنه، ما لم يتنازل صاحب الحق عن حقه؛ وذلك وفقاً لما تبينه اللوائح.
2- للجهة المختصة -وفق ضوابط تحددها اللوائح- استثمار المنتزهات الوطنية والبرية والجيولوجية، وتنظيم الاستثمار فيها.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 13 explained in plain English
This article governs the establishment and investment of national, wilderness and geological parks.
Paragraph 1 - Establishment:
- Parks are established by decision of the Minister, who under Article 1 is the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
- The land must be not privately owned, and no one may have a right of exclusive use, reservation or concession over it.
- If any of these rights exists, the authority has two options: amending the map of the proposed park, or choosing an alternative to it, unless the holder of the right waives his right.
- The details are referred to the regulations.
This provision protects holders of private rights, as the article does not make establishing a park a reason to extinguish their rights, but requires amending the map or choosing an alternative unless they waive.
Paragraph 2 - Investment: The competent authority may invest in these parks and regulate investment in them, according to controls the regulations set.
This article is linked to Article 12, which bars owning or encroaching on the lands of national, wilderness and geological parks. Anyone who has a right over land proposed to be included in a park can consult a lawyer specialized in environmental laws or in real estate cases.
Practical example
The competent authority proposed establishing a wilderness park that includes part of land of Abdullah over which he holds a concession right. Under Article 13, the park's map is amended or an alternative is chosen, unless Abdullah waives his right.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 13 of the Saudi Environment Law
Who issues the decision to establish national parks?
They are established by decision of the Minister, who is the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
What happens if I have a right over the land of a proposed park?
The map of the proposed park is amended or an alternative is chosen, unless you waive your right, as the regulations set out.
Can investment be made in national parks?
Yes. The competent authority may invest in them and regulate investment in them according to controls the regulations set.
More articles on Vegetation Cover and Logging
- Article 12
The article prohibits owning forest, rangeland and national, wilderness and geological park lands by any transfer of ownership, and prohibits encroaching on them by expansion or new construction.
1- لا يجوز تملك أراضي الغابات والمراعي والمنتزهات الوطنية والبرية والجيولوجية، بأي وجه من أوجه التصرف الناقل للملكية. 2- لا يجوز التعدي -سواء أكان بالتوسع أم با
- Article 14
The article requires any person to obtain a permit before extracting or exploiting sand, gravel, rock or clay, as the regulations set out.
على أي شخص قبل القيام بنهل أو استغلال الرمل أو الحصى أو الصخور أو الطين؛ الحصول على تصريح، وذلك وفقاً لما تُبيّنه اللوائح.
- Article 15
The article requires a license to reclaim and level agricultural land and vegetation cover lands, without prejudice to Article 14 on the sand and gravel extraction permit.
دون إخلال بما ورد في المادة (الرابعة عشرة) من النظام، يشترط لاستصلاح الأرض الزراعية وأراضي الغطاء النباتي وتسويتها؛ الحصول على ترخيص وفقاً لما تُبيّنه اللوائح.
- Article 16
The article prohibits any activity or work within vegetation cover lands, or in urban lands with vegetation cover supervised by the competent authority, without a permit or license.
1- تُحظر ممارسة أي نشاط أو عمل داخل أراضي الغطاء النباتي؛ دون الحصول على تصريح أو ترخيص، وذلك وفقاً لما تبينه اللوائح. 2- تُحظر ممارسة أي نشاط أو عمل في الأراضي
- Article 17
The article requires the license holder and permit holder, when using vegetation cover lands in their activities, to take environmental considerations into account and use the soil rationally.
على كل من المرخص له والمصرح له -عند استخدامه أراضي الغطاء النباتي في تنفيذ أنشطته- الأخذ بالاعتبارات البيئية، والالتزام بالاستخدام الرشيد للتربة؛ وذلك وفقاً لما
- Article 18
The article prohibits cultivation or tree planting within vegetation cover lands without obtaining a license.
يُحظر الاستزراع أو التشجير داخل أراضي الغطاء النباتي؛ دون الحصول على ترخيص.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.