Amed –Last year, four provincial borders of the Kurdish cities in Turkey were changed by two presidential decrees. After the decrees, the Şenyayla region of the Kulp district of Amed (Diyarbakır) province is now the region of Muş province. According to local sources, hundreds of trees in the region are being cut down by soldiers and village guards for the construction of a new outpost opposite to a military base near Mount Andok. 

The trees are cut down in the region

In spring, nomads go to the Şenyayla region, which fascinates everyone with its natural beauty and snowy mountains. But soldiers and village guards destroy its natural beauty by cutting down the trees in the region in order to build a road for the new outpost.

The local people react to the policy being carried out in the region

In recent years, trees have been cut down in Şırnak, Hakkari and Muş on the grounds of “security”. The people living in these cities and environmentalists are concerned about the ongoing deforestation in the region and react to the policy being carried out in the region.

“Deforestation in the region is the issue concerning the whole country”

We spoke to Menekşe Kızıldere, Co-spokesperson of the Ecology Commission of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) about the cutting down of trees in the region. Stating that trees should be protected against wildfires, Menekşe Kızıldere reacted to the cutting of trees in order to build a new outpost. Underlining that deforestation in the region is the issue concerning the whole country, Menekşe Kızıldere said, “The deforestation in Muş is an issue concerning not only the nomads but also the whole country. Trees are often cut down in the region to build outposts.”

“They want to depopulate the region”

Stating that the budget allocated to protect forests is invested in war, Menekşe Kızıldere said, “Investing in war is a crime against all citizens living in the country, where the effects of the climate crisis have been deeply felt. It is a crime against the next generations. Deforestation in the region will affect agriculture and animal husbandry, which are the sources of income for the local people. The construction of outposts aims to displace the people and depopulate the region. It causes permanent ecological, economic and social damage to the region.”