Land expropriation policy and its impacts on agricultural land consumption
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Date
2025
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An evaluation and analysis- the case of Semel and Zakho, Iraqi Kurdistan Region
Abstract
Expropriating agricultural land for urbanization is widespread in developing countries, justified legally to serve the public interest, with affected people receiving fair compensation. However, implementing this policy carries severe consequences, primarily consuming vast fertile agricultural land. In Iraq, particularly in the Kurdistan Region, historical, political, and economic circumstances have been crucial in developing this policy and its applications. Population growth, economic considerations, and institutional factors have accelerated land expropriation to meet the
rising demand.
Over the past three decades, the cities of the Kurdistan Region have developed rapidly, depleting their fertile lands through expropriation. This development has resulted in numerous social, economic, and environmental consequences and institutional conflicts. This study examines approaches to facilitate sustainable land expropriation, focusing on the Kurdistan Region and a more in-depth analysis of the Semel and Zakho territories. In the view of the principles of good governance approach, the research finds an interaction between these principles and the expropriation policy through a detailed review of this policy and a study of its consequences, including intensive land consumption. Furthermore, the study delves into the driving forces behind expropriation and evaluates its intensifying influence on accelerating expropriation.
The ethodology is designed to follow an appropriate research strategy and establish adequate data collection and analysis methods. Based on various criteria, the study has selected Semel and Zakho areas, achieving a comprehensive analysis of the impacts of agricultural land expropriation, the factors influencing it, and the regulatory framework in the given context. The study utilizes quantitative and qualitative research techniques, including document and archive analysis, observation, and in-depth interviews. The findings of this research are shown in the form of a conceptual proposal outlining transparency, participation, accountability, the rule of law and justice, equity, and the interviewee's perception as criteria for sustainable land expropriation in the selected areas and the Kurdistan Region. Moreover, this research recommends general strategies as the essential base for shifting toward an efficient expropriation policy. The recommendations are closely related to the expropriation legal and institutional framework and its consequences.
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Keywords
Expropriation, Affected people, Development projects, Agricultural land
Subjects based on RSWK
Kurdistan-Irak, Landwirtschaftliche Nutzfläche, Enteignung