Article 18 of the Saudi Environment Law
المادة 18 من نظام البيئة · الفصل الثالث: أراضي الغطاء النباتي
The article prohibits cultivation or tree planting within vegetation cover lands without obtaining a license.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يُحظر الاستزراع أو التشجير داخل أراضي الغطاء النباتي؛ دون الحصول على ترخيص.
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 18 explained in plain English
It may seem strange that tree planting is barred without a license, but the article makes it subject to a license in vegetation cover lands, without stating the reason.
The provision: Cultivation or tree planting within vegetation cover lands is prohibited without obtaining a license.
Notes:
- The document required here is specifically the license, not the permit. Under Article 1, a license is a document the competent authority grants to a person to authorize him to carry out an environmental activity.
- The scope is vegetation cover lands, which under Article 1 are state-owned lands containing wild plants, such as rangelands, forests, parks, valleys and sand, mountain and coastal areas and islands.
- The article does not exempt voluntary or non-profit planting; the text is general.
This article is linked to Article 19, which prohibits anything that would harm vegetation cover lands or disturb their natural balance, "taking into account" this article. Anyone who wants to carry out a tree-planting project can consult a lawyer specialized in environmental laws.
Practical example
A charity in Asir plans to plant hundreds of seedlings in a valley within vegetation cover lands. Under Article 18, it must obtain a license before starting, because the article prohibits cultivation or tree planting within these lands without a license.
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 18 of the Saudi Environment Law
Do I need a license to plant trees in the wild?
If the planting is within vegetation cover lands, yes. The article prohibits cultivation or tree planting in them without a license.
Is voluntary tree planting exempt from the license?
The article mentions no exception for voluntary planting; the prohibition is general for any cultivation or tree planting without a license.
Is a permit enough instead of a license for tree planting?
The article specifically provides for obtaining a license.
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 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
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.