At the foot of Mount Cudi in the Kurdish province of Şırnak, environmental activists planted thousands of acorns on Sunday. The action is part of a regional reforestation campaign under the motto “Collect an acorn, plant an acorn.” The aim is to protest against the ongoing environmental destruction in the region and at the same time send a message of hope and peace.
The planting campaign was organized by the Şırnak Ecology Platform in cooperation with the Mesopotamian Ecology Movement. Dozens of people took part in the campaign, including representatives of political parties, civil society groups, and residents from surrounding villages. The participants marched through the countryside near Kûnsera, chanting slogans before they began planting together.
Acorns as a symbol of new beginnings
Why acorns? “They represent stability, local roots, and renewal,” said Fadıl Say from the Ecology Platform, noting that the decision to plant on Mount Cudi was a conscious one. “In recent years, countless trees have been cleared and entire forests burned down here under the pretext of ‘security.’ In addition to the militarization of the region, a nearby coal-fired power plant also poses a massive threat to nature,” said Say.
“We sow hope to preserve life,” Say emphasized. “Every acorn represents a possible tomorrow.” One of the initiative’s central concerns is to work together to restore habitats and promote awareness of ecological self-determination.
Nature conservation as peace work
Derya Akyol from the ecology movement also sees the campaign as more than just environmental protection: “Our campaign is part of a long-term vision. Peace begins with nature. Those who protect the environment also protect life.” She called for similar campaigns to be launched in other regions. The idea is that everyone can make a contribution locally with limited resources—whether by planting a tree or preserving a piece of nature.
The campaign was accompanied by Kurdish music and banners bearing slogans such as “No life without nature” and “Every tree is a life.”
