Article 20 of the Saudi Environment Law
المادة 20 من نظام البيئة · الفصل الثالث: أراضي الغطاء النباتي
The article prohibits producing, transporting, storing, selling or promoting local firewood or charcoal without a permit or license, as the regulations set out.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يُحظر إنتاج الحطب أو الفحم المحلي، أو نقل أي منها، أو تخزينه، أو بيعه، أو الترويج له؛ دون الحصول على تصريح أو ترخيص، وذلك وفقاً لما تحدده 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 20 explained in plain English
This article addresses the problem of wood-cutting and the trade in local firewood and charcoal.
There are five acts prohibited without a permit or license, covering the whole trade chain:
- Production.
- Transporting.
- Storing.
- Selling.
- Promotion, such as advertising for sale in shops or on social media.
The prohibition is therefore not limited to whoever cuts the wood, but includes the carrier, the owner of the warehouse, the seller and the promoter if they have not obtained the permit or license.
Notes:
- The text speaks of firewood and local charcoal, so it concerns the locally produced product.
- The article does not bar these activities absolutely, but requires a permit or license for them as the regulations determine.
This article comes after Article 19, which prohibits cutting trees and shrubs in vegetation cover lands or trading in them; the two complement each other in protecting trees from wood-cutting. Anyone who works in this trade and wants to confirm his position can consult a lawyer specialized in environmental laws.
Practical example
Majed advertises local firewood for sale on his social media account with a delivery service. Under Article 20, selling, transporting and promotion all require a permit or license, and if he has not obtained one he is in breach of the article.
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 20 of the Saudi Environment Law
Is selling local firewood prohibited?
Selling it is prohibited without obtaining a permit or license as the regulations determine.
Does the prohibition cover only whoever transports firewood?
No. The article prohibits transporting local firewood or charcoal without a permit or license, and also producing, storing, selling and promoting it.
Is advertising firewood online a violation?
Promoting local firewood or charcoal without a permit or license is among the acts prohibited in the article.
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.