Legal action taken over cutting of century-old trees in Mosul

MOSUL, Iraq — The Nineveh Environment Directorate said on Wednesday that it had taken legal action against a person accused of cutting century-old trees in Mosul after a field inspection confirmed that three trees had been felled in a wooded area in the city center. The inspection was carried out by a joint team from the Natural Ecosystems and Citizens’ Affairs units after a complaint from the Mosul municipality, the directorate said. It said the act violated Regulation No. 23 of the 2009 Environmental Protection and Improvement Law. The directorate reminded the public that century-old trees in public areas in cities cannot be cut without approval from the competent authorities. Nineveh Environment Director Rana Munir al-Tai said field inspections and follow-up work would continue. Al-Tai also called on citizens to cooperate in protecting green cover and natural resources.