Trees in the Komate region of Elkê, in Turkey’s southeastern district of Şırnak (Şirnex) are being cut down by local village guards. The operation is overseen by Turkish soldiers, according to a report by Mezopotamya Agency.
Village guards stepped in to remove the trees after local villagers refused the order of the soldiers, Mezopotamya said. Thousands of trees have been cut down as of 27 June in Komate. The trees are then loaded onto trucks and transported to various cities.
Deforestation in Turkey’s Kurdish-majority regions is an ongoing issue. In November, the search for oil in Şırnak’s Gabar Mountain led to widespread deforestation and the destruction of villages. Locals who were forced out of their homes 30 years ago urged authorities to halt the devastation. A series of military watchtowers, roadworks, and oil exploration sites have replaced the once vibrant forests and villages.
Similarly, in August 2023, the construction of a new military base in a rural area of Turkey’s Kurdish-majority southeastern Bingöl (Çewlik) province led to road closures and restricted access to grazing lands. This operation caused distress among local residents and heightened environmental concerns, as thousands of trees were cut down.
Mesopotamia Ecology Movement co-spokesperson Murat Bilgiç drew attention to the environmental destruction caused by the construction of military bases. “These bases are not providing security in Kurdistan; they have become a security problem. All resources are being destroyed. It’s an eco-crime,” he said.
In an interview for the Fall 2022 issue of Express magazine, Şırnak Bar Association President Rojhat Dilsiz and Agit Özdemir of the Mesopotamian Ecology Movement and Mardin Ecology Association revealed that deforestation in Turkey’s Kurdish majority regions is part of a larger strategy for depopulation and profit-making.
Tree cutting, initiated in 2020 under military supervision, paves the way for profiting from cleared areas and preparation for mining activities. Legal protocols are disregarded, and trees are cut and sold, reflecting a profit-driven mentality extending beyond security considerations.
