The deforestation that began in the Dorşîn region of Amed's (Diyarbakır) Pasûr (Kulp) district continues. In response to the plundering, acorns were collected and planted on the outskirts of Dorşîn under the leadership of the Democratic Institutions Platform. Representatives of organisations protesting the ongoing deforestation called for an end to this situation.

 

Müzeyyen Sevim of the Labor and Democracy Platform said their goal was to raise environmental awareness. “Society must unite against the plundering of nature. Our children’s future depends on it. Seasons have changed, rainfall is irregular, and drought is worsening. I call on people to stand together against these exploitative companies,” she said.

 

‘THEY ARE PLUNDERING NATURE’

 

Sevim argued that companies destroy nature for profit and that the state’s failure to enforce protective laws enables this damage. “If the state had enacted policies to protect nature, none of this destruction would have been possible. All laws should protect people, nature, and life. But current policies have erased ecological consciousness,” she said.

 

‘STATE POLICIES AIM TO DESTROY’

 

Ecology activist Mehmet Polat warned of severe environmental destruction in Pasûr, emphasizing the need to “green the land again.” He said the saplings they planted would “give breath to the people.”

 

“The system of the state is built on destroying life. This is most evident in Kurdistan. There is massive ecological plunder, and we try to stop it. People have ecological awareness, but the power they face is immense. Everyone must take a stand against eco-crimes,” Polat stated.

 

‘NATURE IS A BREATH’

 

Bekir Toprak from the Health and Social Service Workers’ Union (SES) Amed Branch said their sapling-planting effort aimed to keep nature alive. “This destruction harms all living beings. Nature is a breath for all of us. While the state talks about peace, it simultaneously commits eco-crimes. For peace, nature’s destruction must also end,” he said.

 

CALL FOR RESISTANCE

 

Amed Ecology Assembly activist Mehdin Aslan said they would continue to defend nature everywhere: “With every sapling we plant, we revive what has been destroyed. If we do not protect our land, the waters will dry up.”

 

Bişar İçli of the Amed Ecology Association said mining operations and tree cutting have caused devastating damage across Kurdistan. “This is another face of the dirty war. Without peace with nature, there is no real peace. We planted trees symbolically because this land must be protected. Capital is targeting Kurdistan intensely; we must protect our water and nature,” he said.

 

MA / Heval Onkol