Trees planted by environmentalists felled in Hawraman

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — More than fifteen trees planted by environmentalists on a main highway in the border area of Hawraman were cut down overnight.

“We are an environmentalist group who, for the past two years, have planted more than 500 mulberry plants on the road from Byara to Gulp village,” Rebaz Gulpi, the supervisor of the village’s environmental council told Rudaw on Monday, confirming trees were felled by unknown individuals during the night. 

Fires have been started near the road in an attempt to burn down more trees, he added. 

“I take this road at least four times every day, and every time  I would come I would look at these trees and it would make me really happy,” livestock owner Mahdi Mahmood said.

“This morning when I came and saw that the trees were cut down, it really upset me, to a point that when I went home I could not stop myself and I came back here at around three,” Mahmood said.

Halabja police spokesperson Barzan Othman said that they had started investigating the incident.

Tree felling has become a recurring problem in the Kurdistan Region. 

In addition to reports of Turkey stealing trees in Duhok province, civilians have also cut down trees for economic gain.

According to the board of Environmental Protection and Improvement of the Kurdistan Region, those rooting out trees and saplings, plants and grass on public property face a jail sentence and fines between 150,000 to 200 million Iraqi Dinars ($100 - $1,370).