Al Diwaniyah landscaper launches tree-planting campaign to make neighborhoods greener

AL DIWANIYAH — Khaled Kilo, a home garden landscaper in the western district of Al-Shamiya, has launched a unique initiative titled “The Tree is on You, the Planting is on Us,” encouraging residents to help green their neighborhoods. The campaign allows locals to purchase trees, while Khaled plants them for free.

Under the initiative, residents cover the cost of Silk Plant trees, purchased from local nurseries for 4,000 dinars (about $2.60) per tree. Khaled then takes care of all the planting. “I’ve been calling on the municipality for three years to take action, but after no response, I decided to start this campaign,” Khaled told 964media. “Now, I’m receiving daily calls from people eager to plant trees in front of their homes.”

Khaled, a professional landscaper, expressed his satisfaction with the response from the community. “There’s a lot of excitement among the residents, and many have posted on social media in support of the campaign,” he said.

Frustrated by the local government’s lack of action to beautify the area, Khaled decided to take matters into his own hands. “I lost hope after repeatedly asking the municipality to support tree planting for three years, so I decided to offer my services for free—but only asked for trees and workers to be provided. Even then, there was no response,” Khaled explained. Since the campaign began, residents have praised his efforts and criticized the municipality for its inaction.

Khaled first introduced the Silk Plant tree to Al-Shamiya in 2009, when he planted one at the local date-packing facility. He continues to advocate for the tree due to its suitability for the local environment and its dense shade.

Local resident Ali Al-Gr’awi praised Khaled’s work: “Khaled spends his evenings planting trees after his day job, without asking for any payment, simply to improve the environment in our district, which lacks greenery in its streets and on its sidewalks. We welcome this initiative and appreciate Khaled Kilo’s dedication.”

The campaign has gained momentum quickly, with residents eager to improve their surroundings. Khaled’s initiative is seen as a positive step toward increasing green spaces in Al-Shamiya and raising environmental awareness.