HAIL – The Ministry of Agriculture has warned the public against illegally cutting down trees for firewood due to the negative impact on the environment, Al-Sharq daily reported.

 

Increased woodcutting activities has expedited desertification and is slowly destroying the environment and biodiversity, said the ministry.

 

If desertification increases at its current rate, farms will be affected and carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere will increase, eventually leading to increased temperatures, it said.

 

The ministry fines anyone who engages in such practice SR10,000 in addition to SR5,000 for each tree cut down.

 

It has signed an agreement with a security company to place guards to watch over forests and prairies in Hail. Ministry undersecretary Dr. Khalid Al-Fehaid urged citizens and expatriates to help the ministry curb this practice by reporting any incidents of illegal woodcutting to authorities. 

“We’re trying to enforce strict laws but at the same time we’re providing an option to the public.

 

“We facilitate the procedures of importing wood from all continents and making it available at reasonable prices.” Environment experts have also warned against the continuation of this practice, especially at the An-Nufud Desert in the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula.

 

They agreed that Hail, known for its biodiversity, has been greatly affected by this practice as several ancient deep-rooted trees were cut down and its wood sold to members of the public.

 

Meanwhile, citizens in Hail called for reducing wood prices and called on authorities to put an end to the greed of some traders who take advantage of the cold weather and hike wood prices.

 

Using firewood to stay warm is very common in Hail households during cold weather.