The Cudi and Gabar Mountains in Şırnak (Şirnex), located in Kurdish-majority areas of Turkey, are being subjected to relentless environmental exploitation, according to grassroots ecological organisations and Mezopotamya Agency, who report widespread devastation caused by mining and oil exploration activities. This destruction is eroding ecosystems, wildlife habitats, and the natural heritage of the region.
Massive explosions, often using dynamite, have split Mount Cudi in two, leaving irreversible scars on its landscape. Published footage showcases the devastation wrought by coal and oil extraction.
The Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) has intensified its oil exploration on Mount Gabar over the past two years, compounding the ecological crisis.
Thousands of trees have been felled to make way for roads and towers, severely diminishing habitats for wild goats and other native species.
Fires resulting from these activities, often conducted in coordination with military and ranger forces, have caused further damage to the environment.
The Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) Amed Ecology Assembly has condemned the destruction. In a written statement, the group criticised the unchecked exploitation in the Cudi and Gabar Mountains, stating that mining and oil drilling operations are devastating ecosystems and endangering wildlife.
The ÖHD emphasised that these actions are not coincidental, pointing to the region’s designation as “special security zones” since the 1990s. These designations, coupled with depopulation efforts, have facilitated unregulated resource extraction.
“The ecocide in Qileban, Elkê, and other areas, combined with deforestation across Kurdish regions, is shrinking the living spaces of Kurdish communities and wildlife. We will continue to monitor this destruction, which violates fundamental rights, including access to clean air, safe drinking water, and a balanced environment,” the association said.
Declared “special security zones” since the 1990s, much of the region has been closed off to public access, allowing unregulated activities by mining and oil corporations. Mining on Mount Cudi is controlled largely by Süleyman Bölünmez, a businessman affiliated with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). On Mount Gabar, oil exploration has expanded under the TPAO’s leadership.
The environmental impact extends beyond these mountains. In 2022, the Urfa Forestry Regional Directorate reported that 7% of Şırnak’s forested areas were destroyed in just seven months, with losses expected to surpass 10% by 2024. Tree felling, often conducted under military supervision, continues unabated in Uludere (Qileban) and Beytüşşebap (Elkê), exacerbating the region’s vulnerability to ecological collapse.
