The Environmental Commission of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) has issued a formal condemnation regarding the systematic destruction of forests and natural habitats in Southern Kurdistan, characterizing the ongoing operations by the Turkish military as “ecocide.” The commission asserts that these actions are not merely collateral damage of military conflict but a deliberate effort to dismantle the region’s ecological foundation, which they argue is essential to the area’s identity and future viability.
Recent reports, bolstered by compelling satellite imagery, have brought the scale of this environmental crisis into sharp focus. By comparing topographical data from 2013 and 2023 across twenty specific zones in the Duhok province, researchers have documented a stark reduction in forest cover. The mountainous regions surrounding Zaxo and Amêdî in the Behdînan area have been identified as the most severely affected. In these zones, the construction of new military bases and strategic access roads has necessitated the mass clearing of ancient woodlands. Furthermore, the KNK has documented the systematic extraction and transport of timber into Turkish territory, an activity they describe as an illicit exploitation of local natural resources.
The KNK’s assessment suggests that Turkey’s occupation policy functions as a multi-pronged strategy. Beyond securing military control over border regions, the commission contends that the destruction of woodlands is intended to erase the region’s “ecological identity.” By systematically removing the vegetation that has defined the landscape for generations, the operations effectively render the environment inhospitable and fundamentally altered, according to the statement.
In response to these developments, the KNK has issued a five-point appeal, urging international human rights and environmental organizations to abandon their silence and initiate formal, independent investigations into what they term “environmental crimes.” The commission emphasizes that the destruction of biodiversity and the clearing of protected forests constitute a violation of international standards regarding the protection of natural habitats during military occupation.
The appeal also places significant pressure on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The KNK warns that inaction or a lack of a definitive stance against these operations effectively enables the continuation of the environmental degradation. “Silence in the face of ecocide is a serious offense,” the commission stated, calling for local authorities to prioritize the defense of their natural heritage as a matter of national sovereignty and ecological health.
Media organizations have also been called upon to broaden their focus. The KNK urges international journalists to heighten coverage of the long-term ecological consequences of these military operations. By highlighting the burning of forests and the clearing of land, the commission hopes to foster greater global awareness and pressure, which they believe is necessary to compel a change in policy.
Finally, the commission is calling for a global mobilization of civil society. Invoking the protection of trees and habitats as both a “moral and national duty,” the KNK is urging environmental activists worldwide to voice their opposition to the situation in Southern Kurdistan. The statement concludes with a call for active, peaceful resistance, asserting that the destruction of Kurdistan’s natural landscape must be halted through sustained public protest and international advocacy.
As the satellite data continues to reflect a shrinking green cover in the Behdînan region, the debate over the intersection of military occupation and environmental sustainability is gaining urgency. The KNK remains steadfast in its position that the defense of Kurdistan’s environment is inseparable from the rights and future of its people, calling upon the international community to recognize the loss of these ecosystems as a critical humanitarian and ecological concern.
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