These developments have taken place during a period marked by renewed calls for peace, led by Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Yet behind the political gestures, ecocide policies, including mining, deforestation, hydroelectric dams, and fossil fuel exploration, have intensified, displacing hundreds of thousands of people and severely damaging the region’s biodiversity.

 

MASSIVE INCREASE IN PROJECT APPLICATIONS

 

Between October 1, 2024, and August 9, 2025, 2,207 EIA applications were submitted for projects in Kurdistan. Of these, 625 were granted “EIA not required” status, and 149 received full approval. Official processes have begun for 753 applications. The highest number of filings came from Dîlok (Gaziantep), while Xarpêt (Elazığ) led in exemptions. Comparatively, 2,655 applications were filed in the same period the previous year, with noticeable increases in Şirnex (Şırnak), Meletî (Malatya), Erzirom (Erzurum), and Sewas (Sivas), while 18 provinces saw a decline.

 

ŞIRNEX: A CENTER OF ECOLOGICAL DESTRUCTION

 

Following the collapse of peace talks between 2013 and 2015, Şirnex has become one of the most ecologically devastated areas in Kurdistan. From October 1, 2024, to August 9, 2025, 116 EIA applications were filed in Şirnex, up from 85 the previous year. Many projects involve solar energy systems, petroleum exploration, and mining. State-supervised deforestation—especially in Besta, Gabar, and Cûdî regions—continues unabated, often under military oversight. Drought has also spread across previously water-rich areas such as Elkê (Beytüşşebap) and Qileban (Uludere), with streams drying up in Hezex (Idil) and Silopiya (Silopi).

 

TARGETING MEMORY AND HERITAGE SITES

 

Many projects coincide with sites of cultural and historical significance. Similar to how the ancient city of Hasankeyf was submerged by the Ilısu Dam, current projects threaten heritage locations like the 8,000-year-old Birkleyn Caves in Amed’s Licê district. A limestone quarry project by the General Directorate of Highways near Korxa village risks damaging these ancient sites.

 

In Şirnex’s Kasrik region, the Nerdüş Dam project threatens to flood dozens of villages in Silopiya and Cizîr (Cizre), including Şax—designated as a First-Degree Archaeological Site. Meanwhile, the Heftborî natural site in Qileban is under threat from another planned dam.

 

Other impacted areas include the ancient Taş Köprü (Stone Bridge) near the Silvan Dam, and the Godernê Waterfall in Amed. Even sacred springs of the Munzur River in Dêrsim are in danger after their protection status was downgraded, drawing backlash from environmentalists.

 

PUBLIC RESISTANCE AGAINST ECOCIDE

 

Despite increasing repression, grassroots resistance to ecological destruction remains strong. Dozens of demonstrations, statements, and campaigns were organized between October 2024 and August 2025. Highlights include:

 

* 6 October 2024: A mass statement was made by Kulp Kasor Basin Protection Platform against the mining activities in the area covering Gavgas, Kuyê, Awdegês, Arqetîn and Xuruç neighbourhoods in Kasor Basin of Pasûr (Kulp) district of Amed.

 

* 28 February 2025: Villagers made a mass statement in Cizîr district of Şirnex against the Nerdüş Dam, HEPP, irrigation project, material quarries, crushing-washing-sieving-sifting plant and concrete plant project planned to be built by the State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) 10th Regional Directorate on Nerdüş Stream, one of the most important water sources of Cudi Mountain.

 

* 25 March 2025: Citizens organised a protest against the cutting down of trees for a sand quarry in Husikan rural neighbourhood of Xana Axpar (Çınar) district of Amed.

 

* 26 April 2025: Mesopotamia Ecology Movement and Şirnex Ecology Platform planted saplings in Besta, where tree cutting had been going on for 4 years, as part of the campaign "Plant a tree, green life".

 

* 4 May 2025: A mass protest was organised against a 30 thousand panel Solar Energy System (SPP) to be installed in a pasture area 48 metres away from the settlement in Cixse rural neighbourhood of Pasûr (Kulp) district of Amed.

 

* 6 May 2025: Villagers started a protest in Çemka village of Colemêrg against the mining exploration by Ölmez Meskan Mining Company for 5 years.

 

* 7 May 2025: Villagers staged a demonstration in the rural Zeytuna neighbourhood of Rişmîl (Yeşilli) district of Mêrdîn against the construction of a solar power plant by the AKP-led Rişmîl Municipality and prevented the diggers from entering the area.

 

* 20 May 2025: Citizens living in Fahrikan, Mala Bawa, Kistan, Mala Qasa, Axçalı, Azikân, Mala Pape villages of the central district of Semsûr (Adıyaman) started a protest against the quarry planned to be built by Alaska Mining.

 

* 21 May 2025: Şirnex Ecology Platform organised a mass march and press statement against the ongoing tree cutting and nature plunder in Gabar, Cudî and Besta regions of Şirnex.

 

* 3 June 2025: Residents of Akres rural neighbourhood in Artuklu district of Mêrdîn prevented the diggers of the company that wanted to install a solar power plant from entering the neighbourhood.

 

* 9 June 2025: A march and press statement were held in Bargini village of Xozat (Hozat) district of Dêrsim and Zeve, Orcan and Desiman villages of Pêrtag (Pertek) district against the plan to establish a pumice mine on 2,200 decares of land.

 

* 25 June 2025: A mass press statement was held in Pirejmon and Heridan rural neighbourhoods of Pîran (Dicle) district of Amed against the lead mine operated by Ölmez Doğu Mining.

 

* 29 June 2025: A mass press statement was held in Hesandîn Plateau in Pasûr (Kulp) district of Amed against the mining project that will negatively affect 6 neighbourhoods and dozens of hamlets.

 

* 11 July 2025: Residents of Dêrahînê (Uzungeçit) town of Qileban (Uludere) district of Şirnex revolted against the mining company coming from Sêrt and removed the company's vehicles from the town.

 

* 20 July 2025: Residents of the region and ecologists marched and made a statement against the HEPP to be constructed by Maya Energy Production Company on Zorê Stream between Sason district of Elih and Pasur district of Amed.

 

* 27 July 2025: Amed Ecology Assembly made a statement against the "Limestone Quarry, Mechanical Plant and Crushing and Screening Plant" to be built by the General Directorate of Highways 8th Regional Directorate in Korxa rural neighbourhood of Licê district of Amed.

 

* 29 July 2025: Şirnex Ecology Platform started a signature campaign against the ongoing tree cutting in many parts of the city and collected 8,200 signatures in 10 days.

 

* 8 August 2025: A mass press statement was held in front of the construction site against the mining activities in Koçmarin neighbourhood of Licê district of Amed and the cutting of the neighbourhood's water."

 

MA / Emrullah Acar