Lawyer Doğan Adıbelli said that although legal steps had been taken against the logging, no results were achieved: “Talking is not enough, we need to act immediately. We must do this both for ourselves and for our future.”
Over the past five years, nearly 12,000 hectares of forest in Şırnak (Şirnex) have been destroyed due to mining, profit-driven projects, and energy development. Measurements in local rivers revealed heavy metal levels up to three times higher than World Health Organization limits. More than 30% of farmland has lost productivity, and the city has experienced record high temperatures in recent years.
To protest the plunder, the people of Botan have organized various actions, including a one-day vigil in Besta. Now, the Şırnak Ecology Platform is launching a tree-planting campaign in November in the areas where the cutting took place, with community participation.
We must regrow every tree that is cut
Aynur Elçeoğlu recalled that they have been struggling to protect nature for years. She said that while society is sensitive to deforestation, actual participation in actions has been lacking. “This must be stopped. When we work on this issue, everyone reacts against the plunder, but at the point of action there is a lot of silence, which deeply pains us. Protecting and expanding nature is in our hands. We must join forces for our children and defend our environment. First, we must prevent the cutting and then plant trees in the areas where cutting has already happened. Only in this way can we stop the destruction caused by the plunder.”
Legal initiatives have failed
Lawyer Doğan Adıbelli explained that legal action against the deforestation has not produced results, leading to despair among the people: “There is serious plunder in Botan. After our previous actions, the cutting did not stop. They want to destroy the geography of Kurdistan and thereby our children’s future. We are calling on people to protect the land, nature, and trees. As nature is destroyed, production also ceases. People must see this reality and raise their voices. Talking is not enough. We must act immediately. We must do this for ourselves and our future.”
They insult and betray the people
Halime Ete stressed their determination to resist the destruction and said they are ready to take to the field every day to stop the logging. “For just a little money, they are insulting our nature and this people. We do not accept this. They have left no trees standing in the mountains of Kurdistan. Everyone should see this betrayal. We will continue the struggle. We will replant every single tree they cut down. We will not stop this campaign until the logging ends.”