Category: Ecology
Ecology is one of the three main pillars of the Rojava Revolution and the stateless self-governance model of the Autonomous Administrations of North and East Syria (AANES), as well as the Kurdish freedom movement more broadly, which initiated the revolution.
Although ecology is one of the main pillars of the revolution in North and East Syria, it is also sadly one of the least developed. This is due to the challenges of being at the epicentre of a global conflict and under heavy economic embargo in a desertifying region suffering immense water scarcity that has been forced into a pesticide and chemical fertiliser heavy form of monocrop agriculture for forty years. To add to these troubles, the rivers which flow through the region are controlled by hostile state of Turkey, which frequently detains water flow.
In Bakur (north Kurdistan / southeastern Turkey), ecological destruction is also used as a weapon of war. Hydroelectric megaprojects have been used to control village populations, displacing hundreds of thousands of people and literally submerging entire towns.
Below you can find articles with more information about attempts to create ecological projects in both regions, the ecological pillar of the Rojava Revolution, and the struggle against ecocide in southeastern Turkey.

Turkey’s Reduction Of Khabur River Water Threatens Fishery In Syria’s Northeast
Fishermen expressed on Sunday their concern over the increasing level of the pollution in the water of al-Basel Dam, south of Hasakah, northeast Syria, which led to the death of many fish.
Hîlala Zêrîn, against cultural genocide
The cultural movement Hîlala Zêrîn in Northern and Eastern Syria is a movement of women created to preserve their cultures and for cultural self-defense against the patriarchy.
Water Drop In Euphrates River By Turkey Portends Humanitarian Catastrophe In NE Syria
Hammoud Hamadin, an administrative official in the Tishreen Dam said on Saturday that Turkey’s reduction of the Euphrates River will lead the Tishreen Dam and drinking water pumping stations to stop working.
Decentralized self-government as a model in Northern and Eastern Syria
The deputy co-chair of the ecological and municipal Autonomous Administration, Bêrîvan Omer, explains that the process of raising awareness and democratization is still progressing slowly in Rojava.
Women plant more than 3,000 trees in NE Syria
The Ecology Committee of Kongra Star has launched a campaign with the motto, “Return to social ecology led by women”. Rihan Temo, the spokesperson of the committee, told us that women have planted more than 3000 trees until now.
Jineology is Everywhere
"Jineology organizes itself on the basis of many issues such as politics, economy, diplomacy and education. Through the communes, assembly, university, and media, we were able to reach out to women," says North-East Syria Jineology Spokesperson Hena Davud.
Afrin IDPs In Aleppo Work In Plant Nursery To Sustain Living
In a plant nursery in the northern countryside of Aleppo, north Syria, displaced women from Afrin are busy with putting seedlings in small bags and filling them with soil, while men are stacking the bags close to each other.
Ecology Discussions and Practices in the Kurdish Freedom Struggle
Ecology is one of the three pillars of the paradigm of Democratic Confederalism, the political-theoretical concept of the Kurdish Freedom Movement. Besides democracy and gender liberation, ecology has been mentioned explicitly as a dimension in this concept since 2005. However to date, ecology is less discussed and practiced than the two other pillars.
Cold weather damages greenhouses in Shahba
Greenhouses in Shahba have been severely damaged due to the strong wind and cold weather.
“How we built Jinwar” – The Free Woman’s Village in Rojava
Jinwar is a village made by women for women in Rojava.
Campaign to plant saplings from the Mesopotamian Ecology Movement
The Mesopotamian Ecology Movement launched a campaign to plant saplings throughout April against the destruction of nature.