More than 50 old trees, including mulberry trees, have been cut down in a village of Kirlkuk province yet no one has been arrested yet.
According to KirkukNow followup, the trees were cut down a few days ago in Papilan village of Shwan sub-district (north of Kirkuk). They were planted back in 1970s.
Environmental activist Shokofa Obeid confirmed in a poast on her Facebok account with photos that dozens of old trees have been cut down in Papilan village. "The village is very devastated in terms of environment. Instead of looking for solution, we are losing what we have and they cut down these trees”
She says the incident comes at a time when the area has previously become a tourist attraction because of the trees, so she calls for legal prosecution and punishment.
According to the Forestry Law No. 30 of 2009, the penalty for logging ranges from 25,000 Iraqi dinars IQD (1USD=IQD1,500) to 1 million IQD, excluding imprisonment, but the amended Iraqi Penal Code No. 111 of 1969 imposes two years in prison and a fine for logging.
Sabah Sadiq, director of agriculture in Shwan sub-district, told Kirkuk Now: “Papilan village was known for its greenery, mulberry and berry trees. It had wide greenery and aged trees yet unknown people cut it down to produce charcoal for fish grill. We feel sorry for that.”
The village is deserted and no family lives there, due to the effects of the drought, according to a video clip. The trees cut down are large, some of them cut to pieces and abandoned.
“They have cut down a large number of old trees in the village. They have cut down so many trees that they could not take them all and left half of them. The berry trees were planted in 1970 and the Peshmarga used to hide out there,” Sadiq added.
He suggested field patrols to the area and guards to prevent logging.
Shwan Agriculture has notified the sub-district director and forest police, but no one has been arrested yet and the suspects are unknown.
