A total of 20 girls in Kifri have formed an environmental initiative aimed at increasing women’s participation in protecting the environment, fostering a new culture of environmental responsibility, and strengthening women’s role in this field.
Established two months ago, the group focuses on activities such as tree planting, expanding green spaces, organizing clean-up campaigns, and raising environmental awareness.
“Our primary objective in forming this group is to introduce a new culture of environmental protection in society through the perspective of women,” said Tablo Darbaz, the group’s leader, in a statement to KirkukNow.
“We aim to build a society where environmental care begins at home, with women playing a key role in instilling values of life and environmental responsibility in their children.”
“In the past, women’s involvement in environmental matters was limited. We want to become a new voice representing women in this field,” she added.
According to Tablo, the group’s efforts are diverse, including tree planting, clean-up and greening campaigns across various parts of Garmian Administration of Sulaymaniyah Province, as well as training sessions and awareness seminars—particularly for women in local neighborhoods. Educational institutions also play a key role in their work, through workshops and seminars on environmental issues and climate change.
The “Environmentalist Girls” group builds on the Garmian Success Project, which has worked over the past two years to increase green spaces in the region.
The initiative is open to all, inviting girls and women who care about the environment to participate and help make Garmian a model for environmental stewardship while highlighting women’s contributions to this cause.
Kifri district is considered one of the disputed territories under the Iraqi constitution, though administratively it falls under the Garmian administration. According to 2023 data, Garmian’s green coverage stands at just 5.7 percent—well below the international standard of 30 percent.
The population of the Garmian administration is estimated at 343,594 people, according to data from the Garmian Directorate of Statistics. Meanwhile, figures from the General Directorate of Municipalities in Garmian show that the area contains 243 large public parks and gardens, including 83 located in the Kifri district.
According to the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Health, environmental pollution is considered one of the factors contributing to cancer. In 2023, a total of 9,911 cancer cases were recorded in the Kurdistan Region, with lung cancer ranking as the second most common type. Across Iraq, the Ministry of Health reported more than 43,000 cancer cases during the same year.
One of the main challenges facing the group is the lack of financial support needed to expand its activities. “All of our work is voluntary,” Tablo noted, emphasizing their commitment to continuing their efforts despite limited resources.
