Erbil Governorate has launched a new irrigation project pumping water from the Greater Zab River to preserve Khabat forests, marking a key step in the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) environmental strategy. The initiative, fully funded by Erbil’s local budget and supervised by the Erbil Irrigation Directorate, aims to restore the 400-acres forest ecosystem and combat prolonged drought.
Officials noted that Khabat’s forests, established in the 1950s, have suffered in recent years due to declining groundwater levels and a lack of sustainable irrigation. The new system, the first of its kind in the Kurdistan Region, will supply a continuous water flow to revive the forest and maintain it as a vital green space for recreation and ecological balance.
This project complements the KRG’s broader water and environmental initiatives. Just days earlier, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani inaugurated the Qushtapa Water Project, delivering clean water to over 240,000 residents through a 266-kilometer HDPE pipeline and drawing from the Little Zab River.
In Akre District, 41 ponds and dams have already protected farms and orchards during droughts, while Erbil’s Green Belt Project is expanding the city’s green area to improve air quality and urban livability.
With over eight major dams completed and 24 more planned this year, these efforts demonstrate a comprehensive approach to water management, climate resilience, and sustainable development. The Khabat irrigation project underscores the KRG’s commitment to safeguarding natural resources, ensuring forests, farmlands, and communities continue to thrive in the face of climate challenges.