Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani inaugurated the Erbil Green Belt Project, a landmark environmental and economic initiative designed to expand green space, improve air quality, and create long-term employment opportunities for the region’s youth.
The Green Belt represents one of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s most ambitious environmental projects to date—establishing an 83-kilometer green zone that will encircle Erbil, protect farmland from urban encroachment, and help combat the effects of climate change.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Barzani described the initiative as both a practical and symbolic investment in the region’s future:
“This project will absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen back into Erbil’s atmosphere, creating cleaner air and a better quality of life for our people,” he said. “It will strengthen our economy, generate new job opportunities for youth, and revitalize the agricultural sector.”
He added that progress requires steady effort and collaboration, quoting the Sufi poet Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi: “The flower blooms because of the rain, not because of the thunder.” Barzani underscored that Kurdistan’s environmental renewal will be achieved through patience and perseverance.
A Strategic Environmental Initiative
The Erbil Green Belt Project will create a circular environmental buffer measuring 83 kilometers in length and two kilometers in width. The first phase—covering 13,000 donums (approximately 3,200 acres)—will involve planting seven million olive and pistachio trees. Ten irrigation wells will also be constructed to support the plantations and ensure year-round maintenance.
Once complete, the Green Belt is expected to increase Erbil’s green coverage to 25 percent, meeting international environmental standards. It will remove an estimated 210,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually, reduce dust storms, and serve as a natural defense against desertification and rising temperatures.
Building Green Jobs and Sustainable Skills
Beyond its environmental benefits, the project is designed to foster economic opportunity and skill development. Hundreds of young people will be employed and trained in agriculture, irrigation, and environmental management as part of the initiative’s long-term sustainability plan.
“Our friends have pledged to train young people who want to work in this project to ensure they can contribute effectively to its success,” Barzani noted, emphasizing the project’s dual impact on both environmental resilience and workforce empowerment.
A Core Pillar of the KRG’s Environmental Vision
The Green Belt Project is a cornerstone of the KRG’s Ninth Cabinet Strategic Environmental Plan, which seeks to expand green spaces, enhance urban livability, and promote climate adaptation. The broader strategy includes the creation of 627 new parks and gardens across the Kurdistan Region, increasing Erbil’s greenery from 9.1% to nearly 20%, and planting more than 100 million trees by 2030 under the city’s Master Plan.
Officials from Erbil’s environment and agriculture offices confirmed that the Green Belt will not only beautify the city but also help preserve its agricultural heritage. No residential or commercial development will be permitted within the zone, ensuring that the land remains dedicated to environmental protection and sustainable agriculture.
A Model for Regional Cooperation
Prime Minister Barzani emphasized that environmental degradation affects not only the Kurdistan Region but also Iraq and neighboring countries, calling on international partners to join in collective efforts to address the global climate crisis. “We want to take action now—before it is too late,” he said.
The KRG continues to welcome collaboration with local and international partners to support this initiative and other climate-focused projects that safeguard the environment and strengthen community well-being across the Kurdistan Region.
