Riyadh: The Agricultural Affairs directorate general in Riyadh seized more than 100 tons of firewood and coal on sale in violation of an existing ban, reports the Arab News.

The seized items were sold at a public auction in Al-Nour District near Exit 18 in the Saudi capital, with the proceeds totaling more than SR200,000 going to government funds.

The directorate noted that many individuals engage in chopping down trees and selling firewood and coal because of the ‘substantial amount of money involved.’

The Arab News report says several years ago, the Kingdom banned firewood and coal sales for heating in winter. Violators of the ban sell these items in remote areas where they cannot be easily seen or the sellers apprehended by the authorities.

The Ministry of Agriculture and the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation (NCWC) warned violators of stiff penalties if they’re caught.

The warning is part of Saudi Arabia’s campaign to rescue and preserve the remaining vegetation in the the country and other parts of the Arabian Peninsula.

‘Much of the firewood and coal sold illegally is from plants and trees in wooded areas in the Kingdom,’ another resident of the capital said.