A joint cooperation agreement between the General Directorate of Environmental Protection of Kurdistan and the University of Kurdistan was signed and exchanged.

According to the Public Relations of the University of Kurdistan, a joint meeting between the Vice President and Head of the Department of Environment (DOE) and the faculty members and presidency of the University of Kurdistan was held on Wednesday, May 20. The meeting emphasized the university's role in environmental protection and social enlightenment.

At the beginning of the session, Shina Ansari, Vice President and Head of the DOE, emphasized the university's role in environmental protection and social awareness in this field. She called for increased cooperation between various university departments and the DOE’s general directorates and headquarters, seeking bilateral collaboration in educational, research, and executive environmental sectors.

Subsequently, Adel Siyousemarde, President of the University of Kurdistan, expressed satisfaction with the scientific and executive cooperation between the university and the Provincial Department of Environment in recent years. Referring to the university's high ranking in water and environmental studies, he announced the university's readiness for further cooperation in these fields.

Bahman Bahramnejad, Vice President for Research and Technology at the University of Kurdistan, highlighted the significance of environmental research at the university by introducing the Lake Zaribar Environmental Studies Research Group, a subsidiary of the Institute of Kurdistan Studies.

Masoud Ebrahimi, Director of the University-Industry and Society Relations Office, pointed to the faculty sabbatical programs as a significant potential for scientific cooperation between the university and executive bodies. He also emphasized the necessity of student internships for preparing students for the professional environment.

Dr. Parviz Karami, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Resources, emphasized the high potential of faculty members, experienced experts, and specialized laboratories, particularly the accredited environmental laboratory. He declared the faculty's readiness for enhanced bilateral cooperation and, recalling the achievements of the First National Conference on Lake Zaribar Environmental Studies, called for the monitoring and implementation of the conference's resolutions.

Jamil Amanollahi, Vice-Dean for Research and Technology at the Faculty of Natural Resources, announced the readiness of the environmental department and the faculty for joint research projects. He criticized the outsourcing of provincial environmental research projects to private companies and universities in other provinces, stating that localization is preferable when specialized personnel and facilities are available at the province's mother university.

Farshid Ghorbani, Head of the Environmental Department, introduced the department's academic levels, laboratory facilities, and existing expertise, highlighting ongoing problem-oriented and demand-driven projects.

Vahid Zamani, a faculty member of the Environmental Department, emphasized Lake Zaribar's potential as a key Ramsar Convention site. He stressed the urgent need for a joint research site between the DOE and the university at the wetland, stating that such a multi-purpose site would enhance the province's environment and establish the international identity of Lake Zaribar. He further called for upgrading at least one protected area in the province to a National Park as a major public demand and criticized the provincial DOE's lack of equipment, requesting the Vice President's assistance. He also commemorated the environmental volunteers martyred in the Abidar mountain fire, stressing the need to train and equip environmental NGOs.

Habibzadeh, Deputy for Human Environment at the Provincial DOE, provided technical details regarding the impoundment of the Zhaveh Dam, stating that the permit is contingent upon full compliance with technical requirements.

Zandi, Director General of the Provincial DOE, discussed the province's gold mines in Saqqez and Qorveh, emphasizing the department's supervision. He clarified that based on scientific sources, the water pollution in Delbaran, often attributed to gold mining on social media, is geogenic (natural). Regarding the Saqqez gold mine, which has not yet commenced operations, he announced full environmental monitoring and noted that several kilometers of facility relocation and drilling adjustments were made under DOE supervision to prevent environmental consequences.

Furthermore, Ali Akbar Varmaqani, Deputy Governor for Political, Security, and Social Affairs, and Dr. Ashrafizadeh, Director General of the Wetlands Protection and Restoration Office, emphasized their support for joint cooperation between the Kurdistan DOE and the University of Kurdistan.

The meeting concluded with the formal signing and exchange of the cooperation agreement between the Kurdistan Department of Environment and the University of Kurdistan in the presence of the Head of the Department of Environment.