Environmental group says Iraq election campaign damaged 300,000 trees

BAGHDAD — The Iraq Green Observatory on Saturday accused candidates of widespread environmental violations during the 36-day parliamentary election campaign and called for harsher penalties against offenders.

In a statement issued at the start of the electoral silence period, the observatory said, “Candidates did not tolerate seeing green trees, especially the long-lived ones in Baghdad and other governorates. They used them to hang their posters, which damaged around 300,000 tress, by cutting, branch breaking, and driving nails into trunks.”

A total of 7,768 candidates are contesting this year’s parliamentary elections Campaigning began on Oct. 3 and ended on Nov. 8, before the Nov. 11 vote.

The group described the conduct as irresponsible and damaging to the environmental and visual infrastructure of Iraqi cities. It also highlighted that candidates had violated prior warnings by posting materials on utility poles, despite clear instructions from Baghdad Municipality and the electoral commission.

Election posters are a pervasive sight during Iraqi campaigns, covering buildings, bridges, and public spaces throughout the country.

The observatory stressed the need for accountability, stating, “There must be stricter penalties. Posting images this way is far from civil behavior.”

It added that public infrastructure, including irrigation systems and fountains in newly landscaped medians, had also been intentionally damaged during campaigning. The Baghdad Municipality has announced plans to remove all campaign posters and impose fines on violators, recovering cleanup costs from insurance deposits.

In contrast, the observatory praised the Kurdistan Region’s four governorates for adhering to campaign regulations. “There were no posters in the medians, and candidates coordinated with specialized companies to use digital screens, which are easier to remove or update after the campaign ends,” the statement said.

The Iraq Green Observatory is a platform focused on environmental issues, climate change data, and related public awareness in Iraq.

In an earlier report, the observatory said that Iraq has lost approximately one million trees over the past two years due to a combination of environmental, commercial, and urban development factors.