BRADOST, Kurdistan Region — People living in the Kurdistan Region's mountains rely on heating oil as temperatures drop and snow begins to fall. In 2018, residents have resorted to chopping down trees to make up for the shortages.
"If we don’t cut down the trees, we won’t be able to provide heat for our family. I feel like a criminal..." said Jasim Bradosty, a local from Bradost in northern Erbil province.
"If the government would distribute heating oil to citizens, people wouldn’t cut down trees. And another point, there is no control over fuel prices in the market. Seriously, fuel prices are too expensive," he added.
For winter in 2018, each family only in the mountainous areas was given a barrel of "white oil" (otherwise known as kerosene or heating oil) by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
"The distribution of heating oil has stopped since 2014 because Baiji oil refinery no longer exists and the KRG doesn't give us fuel. In the past two years, Baghdad had been giving us a small amount of heating oil day-to-day," explained Erbil Governor Nawzad Hadi.
He detailed Baghdad has only sent about 10 percent of even less than what the people require.
"For example to give one family a barrel Sulaimani province needs 110 million liters, Erbil needs 100 million liters, and Duhok 80 million liters. What Baghdad has sent last year for all three provinces was only 30 million liters," Hadi said.
One barrel of heating oil is worth 120,000-150,000 IQD ($100-$125).
Locals say they need six barrels per year on average to make it through the winter.
Balakayati and Bradost are home to many trees, but are under threat of deforestation if the practice continues.
"It may take 50 years to for such forests to regrow. It needs time. It’s a crime that these trees are being cut down like this. People from these areas should have mercy on the beautiful nature," said Jabir Wasman, a local.
The Kurdistan Region does have park rangers who are responsible for protecting nature; however, during the ISIS conflict many were ordered to take up arms to defend their homeland.
"Because we were on the frontlines of the [ISIS] war, how can we arrest people and punish them? Whenever we return to our stations, we won’t let people destroy Kurdistan’s nature anymore just like we used to do in previous years," said Ismael Warti, a park ranger.
People in the remote areas of the Kurdistan Region have limited national electricity. Small generators do not produce enough amperes to power heaters, which is why they turn to the more cost-efficient kerosene or wood for stoves and heaters.
The Kurdistan Region’s financial crunch has hit the tree market in 2018, with sales of saplings down by 50 percent.
