Sulaymaniyah’s Greenery Nears Global Standards

Reports 12:11 PM - 2025-08-12

A gardener cutting grass.

Sulaymaniyah Municipality is continuing its efforts to expand green spaces by building new parks and gardens, aiming to enhance the city’s beauty and bring greenery levels close to international standards. Despite ongoing drought and water shortages, the Parks Directorate has pledged to preserve existing parks, gardens, and boulevards.

Engineer Bahroz Salar, Director of the Sulaymaniyah Parks Directorate, said in an interview with the Kurdistani Nwe Newspaper: “We have 510 parks within the geographical boundaries of the Sulaymaniyah Parks Directorate. In addition to seven large parks, we also maintain 85 main boulevards, all of which are green and serviced.”

Water Shortages Threaten Green Spaces

Salar noted that the summer months, particularly this year, have brought severe water shortages due to reduced rainfall. Many wells have dried up, forcing the Directorate to prioritise the survival of existing trees and plants.

“In some grassy areas, if we can water them, we will; if not, we won’t. For example, Azadi Park has 11 wells, but 10 have completely dried up and the remaining one has very low water,” he explained.

To compensate, the Directorate uses 29 water tankers for irrigation, some rented under contracts which have recently expired. For the past 10 days, government-owned tankers have been used to fill the gap.

Tree Planting and Green Space Requirements

According to Salar, the city plants trees and shrubs annually under a comprehensive plan. In 2024, approximately 135,000 trees and shrubs were planted.

Municipal regulations also require that any investor or developer must ensure that 25% of their project area is dedicated to green space. If this requirement is not met, they must either pay compensation or develop and maintain a public garden elsewhere. As a result, six new gardens are currently in progress — three completed and three under construction.

Approaching Global Standards

Salar reported that Sulaymaniyah’s greenery coverage has reached 19.6%, close to the global standard of 20%.

“Through greening projects, opening new parks, and renovating existing ones, we are approaching international standards,” he said.

However, he acknowledged that July, August, and September remain the most challenging months, due to staff shortages from retirements, reduced water resources, extreme heat, and an ongoing salary crisis.

“I thank our teams — engineers, department heads, gardeners, irrigators, and drivers — who have not missed a single day of work, showing their dedication to the city’s greenery and environment,” Salar said.

Organisation and Public Involvement

The Parks Directorate operates through 17 agricultural zones aligned with city neighbourhoods, equipped to maintain local green spaces. Salar called on residents to support these efforts:

“We urge citizens to help by watering and protecting greenery, especially during the dry season. Do not cut down trees — they are vital for health, beauty, and the environment.”



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