SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Iraqi and Kurdish ministries of agriculture called on Turkey to stop deforestation in areas on the Kurdistan Region’s border.
The Turkish military has cut down trees on the border areas between the Kurdistan Region and Turkey, as it continues its air and ground offensive against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Duhok province.
Lawmaker Hividar Ahmed posted several photos on Facebook showing logs piled in several areas where he said the Turkish army had started deforestation.
“In evidence, the Turkish mercenaries have cut down and stolen trees in Sindya region in Zakho district,” said Ahmed.
In a joint statement late on Monday, the Iraqi and Kurdish ministries of agriculture called on the Regional and central governments to work “seriously” to solve the issue and to have a response.
“The process is not only a hostility against the nature and environment of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, but also a hostile act against humanity and the environment of the whole region and the world, because environment has no boundary,” they said.
The ministries also called on the United Nations, international organizations and diplomats to help the Region and Iraq “tackle this issue which is against environment”.
On Monday, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Spokesperson Jotiar Adil said Erbil had requested Turkey to put an end to deforestation in the Kurdistan Region.
“The KRG is concerned and expresses dissatisfaction about deforestation and damaging the nature of the Kurdistan Region, and it has formally requested Turkey to put an end to deforestation on the border areas, which is not acceptable,” Adil said in a statement.
He also called on Turkey and the PKK to “respect sovereignty of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and no longer cause suffering, exile and destruction to residents of those areas.”
Turkish strikes and clashes between the Turkish military and the PKK have forced residents of three villages to evacuate their homes in Duhok province.
The Turkish army has also entered 40 kilometers deep into the Kurdistan Region, according to Kurdish officials, as part of its military campaign against the PKK.
