Erbil is taking a major step toward greening its urban landscape by building five new parks in the city center. The project covers 200 dunams and will see the planting of 40,000 trees, city officials announced.
Governor Omed Khoshnaw explained that this initiative is part of a broader strategy by the Kurdistan Regional Government to expand green spaces, protect the environment, and combat climate change. Several parks are already under construction, with completion planned this year.
The largest park, near the 120-meter ring road, spans 80 dunams and will host 8,000 trees. Rashkin Park, covering 47 dunams, will receive 16,000 trees. Smaller projects include Zhyan neighborhood park (7 dunams, 5,000 trees), Nazdar neighborhood park (4 dunams, 6,000 trees), and a 60-dunam park along the 150-meter road. Construction progress ranges from 50% to 80% across sites.
Erbil already boasts 26 large parks, 204 small gardens, and 209 forests. These new additions reinforce the KRG’s vision of sustainable urban planning. The Erbil Green Belt, an 85-kilometer-long environmental project, will encircle the city with forests and parks, increasing greenery by 25% and reducing heat levels.
Over the past six years, officials planted more than 522,000 saplings and 370,000 flowers. Local nurseries now produce 200,000 seedlings and flowers annually, with 90% sourced locally. Water recycling projects will support the new greenery, ensuring sustainable irrigation.
Officials stress that the parks are more than decorative. They form a strategic effort to combat climate change, enhance public health, and guide Erbil’s growth toward a sustainable, resilient future.