‘We must work to reforest Mount Kizwan’
“90% of trees on Mount Kizwan were cut down in four years. We must work together to reforest the mount,” said Meha Eid El-Hilû, who lives in a village close to Mount Kizwan.
SORGUL ŞÊXO
Til Temir –Mount Kizwan (Mount Abdulaziz), located in the Jazira Canton of North and East Syria, is known for its tree diversity and natural beauty; however, armed groups such as Al-Nusra Front and ISIS, cut down almost all trees in the mountain when they controlled the area.
90% of trees on Mount Kizwan were cut down between 2011 and 2015, according to the Ecology Committee of the People’s Municipality. When ISIS took control of the area, ISIS members and the local residents cut down trees to meet their need for firewood.
Fines against those who cut down trees
According to the Ecology Committee of Mount Kizwan, the cutting down of trees in the mountain has increased significantly for two years. Fines for cutting down trees without a permit in North and East Syria range from 500 to one million Syrian pounds, according to the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria’s Penal Code. Fines for cutting down trees to build a house range from two to three million Syrian pounds.
‘We only cut down dried trees’
The Ecology Committee of Mount Kizwan carries out awareness-raising activities in villages close to the mountain in order to protect nature. “We need permission to cut down dried trees,” said Meha İd El-Hilü, who lives in a village close to the mountain.
“Since we need firewood to cook and get warm in winter, we get permission to cut down dried trees. We only cut down dried trees because we do not want to destroy nature.”
People living in the villages on the foothills of Mount Kizwan plant trees in order to reforest Mount Kizwan. “Trees produce oxygen and help prevent floods. We suffer from the water shortage because some villages do not have water wells or a water system. Planting olive trees and roses requires a lot of water. Water is as important as trees because we need water for our trees.”
Call for planting trees
Meha İd El-Hilü called on all villagers in the area to plant trees to protect nature. “Trees are one of the most important things in our life. Every family must plant two or three trees because we must work together to reforest the mount. We need projects that aim to increase green areas against deforestation.”