At a Glance

• PUK parliamentary bloc leader Harem Kamal Agha called on the Iraqi Parliament to form a joint investigative committee from the Agriculture and Security-Defense panels to probe ongoing tree-felling in Badinan.

• While Duhok Governor Ali Tatar dismissed reports of deforestation within provincial borders as inaccurate, local mukhtars and residents confirm that the logging is actively occurring.

• Channel8 field reporting and satellite imagery corroborate that civilian contractors and military elements have cleared green areas over extended periods near Amedi and Barwari Bala.

• Lawmakers stressed that the destructions violate Iraqi environmental laws and constitutional protections under Article 33.

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Controversy continues to escalate regarding widespread environmental damage in the border regions of the Kurdistan Region, drawing sharp demands for federal oversight and legislative accountability.

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Parliamentary Action and Local Testimonies

• Call for Investigation: Harem Kamal Agha formally urged parliament to invoke environmental protection laws, including Environmental Protection Law No. 27 of 2009, to investigate areas falling under the jurisdiction of the Iraqi Border Forces command.

• Contradictory Statements: Despite Governor Ali Tatar's assertions that tree-cutting activities are taking place outside the regional boundaries, local community leaders and independent documentation point to systematic logging operations linked to foreign military footprints extending deep into border territories.

• Ecological Concerns: Environmental advocates warn that the loss of forest cover threatens local wildlife, public health, and long-term climate stability in vulnerable mountainous districts.

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Environmental Law and Protection: Article 33 of the Iraqi Constitution and the Environmental Protection and Improvement Law No. 27 of 2009 form the legal framework for environmental protection in Iraq. Karim Agha called for these legal texts to be taken into account and for urgent action to be taken regarding the forests and environment of Badinan.

The head of the Patriotic Union faction also pointed out that the area where the trees are being felled falls within the jurisdiction of the border forces command affiliated with the Iraqi Ministry of Interior.

Tree Felling: For several days, a number of video clips have been circulating on social media showing trucks and tractors loaded with cut wood, reportedly from the villages of Amedi and Barwari Bala, being felled by the Turkish army or a Turkish company. Some media outlets affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party claimed that the trees were cut down inside Turkish territory, but transported through the territory of the Kurdistan Region.

On October 4, 2026, Ali Tatar, the Governor of Duhok, stated in a press conference attended by a Channel 8 reporter that the reports regarding tree felling in the Duhok Governorate border area are "far from the truth." However, the mukhtar (head) of the village of Aradni in Amedi later emphasized that the tree felling is true.

At the same time, Channel 8 reporters in Duhok obtained confirmed information that the felling of trees by the Turkish army and contractors is real and has been ongoing for a long time. Satellite imagery also shows that year after year, the green environment of the region is heading toward further barrenness.

What has raised further suspicion regarding the tree felling is the presence of the Turkish army, which has advanced 38 kilometers into the territory of the Kurdistan Region and established 71 military bases, a large portion of which are located within the borders of Duhok.

FYI

The Badinan region encompasses vast mountainous terrain across Duhok governorate, known for its dense oak forests, rich biodiversity, and vital agricultural ecosystems.

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Turkey-Linked Tree Cutting Intensifies Across Badinan