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Ecology and biodiversity

We survey plants, animals and habitats on land and at sea, and advise on how to avoid, reduce and offset the impacts of your project.

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Overview

Ecology surveys identify the species and habitats on and around a site, including protected species and sensitive areas. Their findings shape the EIA, the layout of the project and the mitigation it commits to.

We also survey and record trees and shrubs where clearance is planned, because cutting or moving them on state land with wild plants or in protected areas needs a prior licence.

In brief, from our library

On state-owned land with wild plants and inside protected areas, cutting, uprooting or moving a tree or shrub needs a prior licence or permit. A tree is any woody plant 1.5 m or taller and a shrub is 0.5 m to under 1.5 m. Under the 2024 Logging penalty table, cutting a tree on vegetation cover lands without a licence costs 10,000 riyals per tree for a first offence, and 20,000 riyals per tree in a protected area, while the 2024 protected areas table sets 10,000 to 20,000 riyals per tree for the same act. For trees on private plots, NCVC's 2024 permit rules include a permit to remove or move local trees from private holdings.Environmental Law (Royal Decree M/165)

Read the full guide: Can we cut or remove trees on our project site?

When you need it

  • Your EIA needs flora, fauna and habitat data.NCEC guide LO-1-M-005, technical requirements
  • You plan to clear vegetation. A tree is any woody plant that rises 1.5 m or more above the soil.Logging reg. Art. 1
  • Your works affect the coast or the sea, where marine habitats must be assessed.Marine reg. (1448H)

What we deliver

  • Flora and habitat surveysSpecies lists, habitat maps and sensitive areas.
  • Fauna surveysIncluding camera trapping and protected species.
  • Tree surveysRecords that support clearance and relocation licences.
  • Marine ecologySeabed, coral and seagrass surveys.
  • Biodiversity assessmentImpacts and the mitigation hierarchy for your project.

How we work

  1. Desk review

    Known species, protected areas and habitats around the site.

  2. Field survey

    Seasonal timing where it matters for the species involved.

  3. Assessment

    Impacts set against the sensitivity of what we found.

  4. Mitigation

    Practical measures written into the EIA and the site plan.

Guides on this topic

References

Show all 4 references
  1. NCEC guide LO-1-M-005, technical requirements
  2. Logging reg. Art. 1
  3. Marine reg. (1448H)
  4. Environmental Law (Royal Decree M/165)
How to read these references 3 texts cited
  • Art. 7(4)(b) means Article 7, paragraph 4, item (b).
  • H after a year marks the Hijri (Islamic calendar) year. 1446H ran from July 2024 to June 2025.

Every text we cite is listed on our regulations page.

Need help with this? Talk to our team.