What is the ruling on one who steps on plants and grasses on the Day of 'Arafah, believing that he is compelled and incurs no sin?

A Muslim in Allah's sacred sanctuary must be peaceful towards everything around him: human, animal, and plant. Mecca is a sacred, secure sanctuary whose game is not to be frightened, whose fresh grass is not to be cut, and whose thorny bushes are not to be broken. For one who damages plants that have grown naturally in the Haram without necessity, some scholars hold that he must compensate for the value of what he damaged, while others believe that no compensation is due, but rather repentance and seeking forgiveness.