ASYAH , 10 December — Unemployed youths in the central and northern regions set out on trips deep into the desert to cut wood and later sell it in urban markets and villages.
They go as far as Al-Dahna Desert and Rafha in the east and Jouf in the north looking for the precious firewood locally known as Orta.
The increasing tendency among the youths to take up this seasonal job in winter is justified as they find it very hard to secure a job. Some of these youths are college graduates waiting for a placement.
Also, cutting wood is a profitable business with a daily income of SR800. A full pickup van fetches up to SR1,000 and the amount may go up according to the quality of the firewood.
"If it is dead dry, the price goes up," says Marzooq, an intermediate student in one of the schools near Asyah.
Marzooq says he is now free as the school is closed for winter and there is no harm earning some halal money this way.
On the other hand, the fact that a large number of youths are taking up this job will definitely have some negative impact as well. The phenomenon will endanger this precious tree species, wildlife officials warn.
The Orta — botanical name calligonum comosum — is one of the noble trees in the Arabian Peninsula as it was the main source of energy for our ancestors before the discovery of oil. It has a symbolic importance for the current generation.
The felling of these trees in large numbers has caused concern among officials of the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD) that it may lead to its extinction. This tree, found only in sandy deserts like the great Nufud and Dahnaa, is considered a barrier stopping moving sands and also provides shelter to several wildlife species.
"I cannot stand sitting around an electrical heater or charcoal fire," says Hamood, a man in his seventies living in Asyah who spends his winter days sitting around a fire of Orta. "Even looking at it makes you happy," he added.
True to this old man’s words, Saudis prefer Orta to charcoal for obvious reasons. Two of these include the bad smell coming out of coal and its exorbitant price. Also, charcoal is derived from unknown species of trees outside the country.
The average consumption of Orta firewood for a household in towns of the Qassim region may cost about SR2,000 a year.
Asked about cutting wood or the places they take it from or the quantity they offer for sale, some young men in the business were not ready to speak.
"Go to Al-Dahna Desert and see for yourselves," said Mohammad who failed to secure admission in university.
As for Abdulrahman, who is always accompanied by his expatriate aides on desert trips, he does not find any difficulty selling his load of firewood.
"I have to park around that corner and it goes in seconds," he explains, pointing to a busy street corner in Asyah.
Asked about the danger of exposing this tree to extinction because of indiscriminate felling in violation of conservation laws, they say that they have no idea about this and they have not encountered any awareness programs in this regard.
All evidence points to the fact that local consumption of Orta as a fuel source has been increasing in recent years. This requires the immediate attention of the concerned authorities and a more efficient awareness program has to be launched to preserve this precious tree.
