Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
WesternZagros’ Responsibility and Commitment
WesternZagros believes our reputation is a critical component in the creation of long-term value for our shareholders. We also recognize that ultimate success is measured by our behaviour beyond the bottom line. Protecting and enhancing our reputation and license to operate is a significant element of sustained success and requires us to commit to corporate social responsibility across our organization.
WesternZagros is committed to conducting our business ethically, legally, and in a manner that is fiscally, environmentally and socially responsible. As WesternZagros continues to evolve as an organization beyond an exploration company, we will continue to implement changes to reflect leading corporate responsibility practices.
Leadership Commitment
WesternZagros’ leaders are responsible for integrating corporate responsibility considerations into all decision-making, in a timely and consistent manner. WesternZagros’ workforce is expected to execute on these leadership decisions.
WesternZagros’ management will lead and establish appropriate measures to effectively identify, monitor and manage corporate responsibility issues and performance relevant to our business.
Operating in Kurdistan, Iraq
Kurdistan is a rapidly growing semi-autonomous region of federal Iraq that has made significant progress for its people and WesternZagros is excited to participate in its civil and social development. Given the particularly disadvantaged nature of our operating area in the Garmian region of southern Kurdistan, the basis of our corporate social responsibility initiatives are to assist in meeting the basic needs of its people for access to clean water, health care and education.
The terrain, climate and historical events of the Garmian region have combined to create severe hardships for the residents of this area. Much of the Garmian receives less than 300 mm (12 inches) of rainfall per year. During the drought conditions of the most recent years, less than 150 mm (6 inches) has fallen in many areas. With this prolonged drought, water tables have fallen, and many of the wells and surface water sources have run dry.
Temperatures often exceed 50 degrees Celcius (122° F) during the peak summer months, adding further pressure on diminished water resources through evaporation and increased demand.
Rugged terrain, with steep jagged outcroppings of rock and deep stream valleys, characterize the northern half our operating block. Although residents use any arable land available for growing crops and grazing animals, much of the land area is unproductive.
A photo of the landscape where we operate: the area is particularly dry and the terrain is rugged
During the Anfal genocide of the Saddam Hussein regime, many of the villages in the Garmian Region suffered atrocities. Villages were destroyed, citizens killed and survivors forced to flee or relocate to purpose built collection towns. The Anfal generated significant social and economic consequences for the villages, the effects of which are still evident. In addition, the Saddam Hussein regime invested little in infrastructure in the Garmian region on such issues as irrigation and water containment systems and neglected other important issues such as education and health care.
Throughout our block, most of the residents live in small villages of less than 100 people and rely almost exclusively on subsistence livestock and grain farming. Worsening drought conditions have recently resulted in poor crop yields and the culling of livestock herds. As a result, even with assistance from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), many villagers live in poverty. Sadly, as a result of these harsh living conditions and limited economic potentials, there continues to be a migration away from the rural villages to larger cities.
The village of Sarhad, an example of a typical village in our operating area
With the implementation of its CSR program, WesternZagros and its co-venturers are seeking to assist in the redevelopment and growth of this area. Our programs are designed to aid the efforts of the people in the Garmian region to overcome the obstacles they face. Ultimately, we strive to contribute to providing a sustainable environment that can fulfill the basic needs of the Garmian people. WesternZagros takes pride in its commitment to make a difference in the communities we operate in.
A man hand sowing seeds in anticipation for a winter wheat crop |
A tree off the bank of the Awaspi River |
A woman picking beans for her family along the river |
An example of the type of agriculture Kurdistan can produce: pomegranates |
