Rare cedar grove felled in Syria’s Kurdish region of Afrin
Afrin, Syria (North Press) – More than 45 rare forest cedar trees have been cut down on Friday in the Kurdish region of Afrin in northwestern Syria, local residents said on Friday.
The logging took place near the Yazidi village of Baflun in Sharran subdistrict, northeast of Afrin city, where the only known cedar grove in Afrin is located.
According to local sources, the grove consisted of around 150 cedar trees planted nearly 60 years ago by residents of the area.
Villagers told North Press that over the past several days, groups of individuals were seen cutting down the trees, chopping them into small pieces, and transporting the wood on motorcycles.
The timber was reportedly taken to nearby IDP camps that remain widespread across the region, as well as to the city of Azaz.
Residents said they attempted to stop the logging but were unable to prevent the operation, which took place openly and without intervention.
Environmental activists warned that the loss of the cedar trees represents irreversible damage, given the rarity of the species and the decades required for it to grow.
“This area was the last remaining spot in Afrin with cedar trees,” a local environmental activist told North Press. “What happened is not just theft of wood, but the destruction of a natural heritage passed down through generations.”
The incident has renewed concerns over widespread deforestation in Afrin, where logging has accelerated in recent years amid weak oversight, economic hardship, and the continued presence of armed groups related to the Syrian National Army (SNA).
Despite repeated calls by local and international organizations to protect forests and prevent illegal logging, residents say accountability remains absent, allowing violations to continue unchecked.
Afrin has witnessed extensive deforestation since Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch in early 2018, which brought the region under the control of Turkish-backed factions. North Press and other media outlets have documented repeated cases of illegal logging, particularly targeting olive groves and forested hills.
United Nations agencies and international NGOs have raised concerns over environmental degradation in Afrin, linking deforestation to displacement, lack of governance, and the exploitation of natural resources. Reports have warned that large-scale tree cutting has harmed local livelihoods, increased soil erosion, and worsened climate vulnerability in the region.
Environmental groups say that economic pressures, the demand for firewood, and the absence of effective environmental protection mechanisms have contributed to the continued destruction of forests, despite sporadic local bans that are rarely enforced.
Reporting by Siwar Hamo