Article 17 of the Saudi Environment Law
المادة 17 من نظام البيئة · الفصل الثالث: أراضي الغطاء النباتي
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 تُبيّنه اللوائح.
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 17 explained in plain English
After Article 16 requires a permit or license to carry out any activity in vegetation cover lands, this article shows how the activity must be carried out once permission is obtained.
The license holder and permit holder, when using vegetation cover lands to carry out his activities, is bound by two things:
- Taking environmental considerations into account: Under Article 1, these are everything that must be taken into account when planning any project of environmental laws, decisions, strategies and programs. That is, the obligation begins at the planning stage, not only at execution.
- Committing to rational use of the soil.
The article does not itself set the criteria of "rationality" in using the soil or the considerations required in detail, but refers this to what the regulations set out.
The practical message: obtaining a permit or license does not mean absolute freedom to use the land; its holder remains bound to take environmental considerations into account and to use the soil rationally. Companies working in these lands can consult a lawyer specialized in environmental laws.
Practical example
A company obtained a license to carry out a project in a plain area of the vegetation cover lands in the north of the Kingdom. In planning and execution, it takes environmental considerations into account and uses the soil rationally, as the regulations set out.
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 17 of the Saudi Environment Law
Is obtaining a license enough to use vegetation cover lands as I wish?
No. The article requires the license holder and permit holder to take environmental considerations into account and to use the soil rationally.
What are environmental considerations?
Under Article 1, everything that must be taken into account when planning any project of environmental laws, decisions, strategies and programs.
Who sets the criteria for rational soil use?
The article refers this to what the regulations set out.
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 13
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.
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 ذل
- 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 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.