Erbil Governor Highlights Strategic Greenbelt Project Backed by PM Masrour Barzani
“With the creation of these greenbelts, Erbil’s environment, air quality, and overall livability will reach a new stage, while also enhancing the city’s visual appeal,” he stated.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw on Tuesday announced that Prime Minister Masrour Barzani is fully committed to increasing the city’s green coverage, as work has officially begun on the capital’s Greenbelt project.
Speaking at a press conference, Khoshnaw said the project will establish two greenbelts stretching 70 kilometers in length and two kilometers in width around Erbil.
“With the creation of these greenbelts, Erbil’s environment, air quality, and overall livability will reach a new stage, while also enhancing the city’s visual appeal,” he stated.
The governor noted that while the entire project might not be completed at once, construction is divided into zones, with work already underway in one area.
“We are pleased that initiatives which once existed only on paper are now being implemented,” Khoshnaw added, expressing optimism that the project would be finished in the shortest possible time.
The Greenbelt, described as a strategic and vital initiative for Erbil, will form a ring around the city beyond the 150-meter road. Spanning two kilometers in width, it will feature more than 10 large ponds to irrigate trees planted throughout the zone.
Khoshnaw emphasized that the project marks the beginning of a new phase for Erbil in terms of water, electricity, and environmental sustainability.
The project is part of broader environmental and urban planning efforts of the Kurdistan Region Government (KRG) aimed at reducing air pollution, curbing urban sprawl, and creating a natural buffer against dust storms.
Similar greenbelt initiatives in other cities have proven effective in improving air quality, lowering temperatures, and enhancing biodiversity in rapidly developing urban areas.
