Erbil Nurseries Produce 200,000 Plants Annually to Green Capital
Erbil's government nurseries produce over 200,000 seedlings annually, boosting the city's greenery. The initiative uses local products to beautify the capital, improve air quality, and lower temperatures, with plans for further expansion.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Government-run nurseries in Erbil are at the forefront of a significant greening initiative, annually producing more than 200,000 seedlings and flowers to beautify the capital's landscape and improve its environmental health.
This sustained effort has contributed to a notable increase in the city's green spaces and reflects a broader strategy by the Kurdistan Regional Government to enhance urban living conditions.
The city's three government nurseries, operated by a dedicated team of 25 workers and gardeners, play an important role in the ongoing campaign to expand Erbil's green areas.
Their work has been instrumental in raising the rate of greenery in the city from 17 percent to 20 percent over the past four years.
The Kurdistan Regional Government is continuing its efforts to further increase this percentage through the creation of new parks and the systematic greening of streets and public spaces.
A key factor in the success and sustainability of this initiative is its reliance on local resources. Lava Kamal, the director of the Erbil Model Nursery, states that the vast majority of their products, approximately 90 percent, are local.
By relying on local seeds and cuttings, the nurseries have significantly reduced operational costs, as importing seedlings and flowers from abroad carries a high financial cost. This approach ensures the program's efficiency while promoting local biodiversity.
The long-term impact of this program is substantial.
Over the past five years, Erbil's government nurseries have produced more than one million seedlings and flowers. Of this total, over half a million have been planted in the city's gardens, parks, and along its streets.
This extensive planting campaign serves a dual purpose: in addition to giving the city a more beautiful appearance, it has also helped to clean the environment and reduce ambient temperatures, a particularly important benefit during the hot summer season.
While significant progress has been made, efforts are ongoing to meet international benchmarks.
According to global standards, the recommended rate of greenery for a city is 30 percent. With this goal in mind, the future plan for Erbil involves planting an even larger number of trees across all of the city's neighborhoods and streets to continue advancing the capital's environmental and aesthetic quality.
