ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Yazidi religious figures and those serving Lalish Temple joined the Rwanga Foundation and volunteers on Wednesday to plant over 100,000 oak seeds as part of an ongoing environmental initiative aimed at reforestation of the Kurdistan Region.
The effort is part of the Rwanga Foundation's overarching campaign to plant one million native oak trees across the Region. During the Shekhan phase, volunteers worked alongside temple caretakers to plant acorns across the mountain surrounding the sacred site of Lalish.
Members of the Yazidi community expressed their support for the initiative, highlighting both its environmental and cultural significance.
"Today we are happy to participate with the Rwanga Foundation in this sacred and noble initiative to protect and revive the environment of the Kurdistan Region, specifically by planting oak trees, which are among the most authentic and natural trees of Kurdistan and have become a symbol of patriotism," Khalid Narmo, an advisor to the Yazidi Spiritual Council, told Rudaw's Naif Ramadhan on Wednesday.
The event drew participants from across the Region, including volunteers who traveled from neighboring areas to contribute to the planting effort.
"I came from Rojava [northeast Syria] with my friends to plant trees and make Kurdistan green. We are very happy with this initiative," said Aya Mohammed, a volunteer participating in the campaign.
Lalish marks the sixth destination in Rwanga’s multi-phase campaign. Earlier stages of the campaign targeted various towns and rural districts across Erbil and Duhok provinces.
"Environment is one of the most important fields of work for the Rwanga Foundation, and the foundation's president and founder, Mr. Idris Nechirvan Barzani, places a significant focus on this sector," said Farhang Ayoub, Director of Rwanga’s Akre office.
The Rwanga Foundation plans to continue the campaign across additional districts in the Kurdistan Region to meet its total target of one million planted oak trees.
