The Al-Abbas Holy Shrine has launched the first phase of a major afforestation project to plant one million trees and establish a green belt around Karbala. The project is being implemented at the Al-Awali agricultural farm, covering an area of approximately 12,500 hectares.

According to a statement issued by the shrine, the trees for the project have been cultivated and prepared in its own nurseries as part of preparations for the large-scale planting initiative.

The planned green belt is intended to expand vegetation cover around Karbala and help mitigate the effects of dust storms, sand encroachment, and desertification. The project is also expected to contribute to improving air quality, moderating local temperatures, and enhancing biodiversity in the surrounding areas.

The initiative comes amid significant environmental challenges facing Iraq, including rising temperatures, declining vegetation cover, the expansion of desertified areas, and increasingly frequent dust storms.

The Al-Abbas Holy Shrine said the project forms part of its broader environmental and agricultural initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability and expanding green spaces around Karbala through long-term afforestation and tree-planting programs.