Warnings Over Environmental Damage Prompt Calls for Tougher Laws in Kurdistan

Kurdistan 05:59 PM - 2026-05-06

Illegal Tree Cutting in the Kurdistan Region.

A member of Kurdistan Parliament from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) bloc and the head of the Kurdistan Green Party have warned of the risks of environmental degradation and forest damage in the Kurdistan Region, attributing part of the problem to the conduct of some tourists. They stressed the need for firm legal measures to protect nature and safeguard environmental resources.

Rawaz Ahmed Shah, a PUK MP, told PUKMEDIA that protecting the environment requires a range of actions, foremost among them raising public awareness to curb littering and water waste. He also warned against lighting fires in open areas and during outings, particularly given the high temperatures at this time of year.

Environment on Parliament’s Agenda

Shah said one of the key priorities for parliament in the coming period will be the introduction of a strong law to protect the Kurdistan environment. The proposed legislation would ban littering in natural areas, impose restrictions on pollution and emissions affecting air quality, water sources, forests, grazing land, wildlife and fish stocks, and introduce strict financial and legal penalties — including the possibility of imprisonment — for offenders.

He noted that environmental protection has improved noticeably thanks to the efforts of citizens and tourists, particularly in Sulaymaniyah. However, he emphasised the need to intensify efforts to expand green spaces and strengthen environmental sustainability, stressing that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility directly affecting both present and future generations.

Calls for Stricter Measures

Meanwhile, Milko Bazyani, head of the Kurdistan Green Party, called for tougher measures against violators. He proposed banning the sale of firewood in markets and stepping up awareness campaigns at checkpoints to curb environmentally harmful behaviour.

In remarks to PUKMEDIA, Bazyani said the Kurdistan Region faces growing environmental challenges due to pollution and the cutting of both natural and planted trees by some tourists, which has damaged the landscape. He noted that several proposals have been put forward to address the issue, including stricter penalties, banning the lighting of fires before vegetation dries, and strengthening awareness campaigns.

He added that a significant proportion of those responsible for such violations come from outside the Region, urging authorities to provide guidance in their own languages, regulate tourism by designating specific areas for visits and limiting random movement, and enforce a complete ban on the sale of firewood.


PUKMEDIA