Iraq's Zakho Plants 16,000 Trees to Fight Climate Change

A university campus in Zakho, Iraq is about to become home to a thriving forest of more than 16,000 trees, creating jobs and green space in a region working hard to combat climate change.

The Zakho Independent Administration has partnered with the International Labour Organization and the University of Zakho to plant 16,350 trees across 22 acres of campus land. The initiative is part of the Kurdistan Region's ambitious One Million Trees campaign, which has already put more than 40,000 trees in the ground.

What sets this project apart is its focus on survival, not just planting. Over two years of planning went into designing a modern irrigation system and establishing a dedicated maintenance team to care for the young trees as they grow. This thoughtful approach gives the forest a real chance to mature into a lasting environmental asset.

The project is creating meaningful work for locals, displaced people, and refugees throughout the planting and maintenance phases. The ILO is ensuring workers receive health insurance and labor protections, turning environmental work into stable employment that supports families.

The forest will feature pistachio and olive trees selected specifically for the climate. Once mature, the green space will include walking paths, seating areas, and cafés where students and visitors can study, relax, and connect with nature.

The Ripple Effect

This 22-acre forest will do more than beautify a campus. It will clean the air, support local wildlife, and provide a living classroom for environmental research and education.

The project shows how environmental goals and community needs can work together. By creating jobs while planting trees, Zakho is addressing climate change and economic challenges at the same time.

As the largest single-site project in the One Million Trees campaign so far, the Zakho forest demonstrates what coordinated partnerships can achieve. When government agencies, international organizations, and universities collaborate with clear goals and careful planning, ambitious environmental restoration becomes possible.

A greener, cooler future is taking root in Kurdistan, one carefully tended tree at a time.