Two Arrested for Cutting Century-Old Trees in Deralook

DUHOK — Two individuals have been arrested in Deralook subdistrict of Duhok’s Amedi district for illegally cutting down mature trees in an attempt to develop an unauthorized tourist site, according to local environmental protection officials.

The incident took place on Friday, May 16, when a group of young people from the Kuwane area went for an outing near the Spina River. There, they discovered several large chinars — some estimated to be nearly 100 years old — had been cut and removed from the site.

Speaking to 964media on Wednesday, Abdulstar Abdulhamid, spokesperson for the Peshmerga Environmental Protection Forces in Duhok, confirmed the arrests. “Following an investigation, it became clear that two individuals had intentionally cut the trees to turn the area into a tourist spot,” he said. “Both were arrested and referred to court for prosecution.”

Abdulhamid added that so far this year, only these two individuals have been arrested in connection with illegal logging. In contrast, 55 people have been detained for fishing violations during the seasonal ban, indicating a drop in tree-cutting offenses compared to previous years.

Illegal logging is a key driver of deforestation in the Kurdistan Region, where traders and individuals often disregard environmental regulations to produce charcoal and firewood.

The Kurdistan Regional Government’s Board of Environmental Protection and Improvement has stressed that penalties for illegal tree cutting include a fine of 500,000 Iraqi dinars (approximately $330). Offenders who fail to pay the fine face up to three months in prison.