This Former Iraqi Military Site Used To Hold 45M Tons Of Waste. Now, It's Being Transformed Into A Massive 'Urban Forest'

This Former Iraqi Military Site Used To Hold 45M Tons Of Waste. Now, It's Being Transformed Into A Massive 'Urban Forest'

After years of conflict, Baghdad, Iraq is slowly but surely working toward stability across its entire infrastructure. 

And now, the city has planned the largest ecological development in the country: Baghdad Sustainable Forests.

The space was once home to the Al-Rasheed military campsite, which was later neglected and held over 45 million metric tons of waste. It will now become a miles-long urban forest.

Encompassing a 10-million-square-meter site (about 3.8 square miles), the sustainable forest project will also include civic towers and residential and commercial spaces, all enveloped by parks and green corridors. Developer Emkanat and architecture firm Gensler say the forest will include one million mature-growth trees.

“Baghdad Sustainable Forests reimagines over 10 million square meters of neglected land as a new ecological and urban district, with forests, parks, and green corridors forming the backbone of the design,” Gensler’s global director of cities Ian Mulcahey told Dezeen.

“The vision is to restore the land, create thriving mixed-use villages, and position Baghdad as both a catalyst for local regeneration and a global model for urban resilience.”

A series of “thematic forests” will give shape to the site, Gensler explained, with each offering “tailored spaces for creativity, well-being, play, and community.” 

According to Dezeen, these themed forests include the Arts and Culture Forest, Health and Wellness Forest, Kids and Entertainment Forest, and the Sports and Fitness Forest. There will be 28 in total.

There will also be over 1.5 million square meters of retail, commercial, education, and living spaces, ideal for walkable mixed-use development. As a whole, the development is expected to generate 80,000 jobs.

The idea is to create a sustainable place for the country’s urban core to live, work, learn, and play in harmony.

“The project will become a beacon for the rebirth of one of the most ancient cities in the world,” Gensler senior associate Glenn Wilson added.

In addition to the large number of trees providing shade and carbon sequestration from the development, the plan is also to include trails that accommodate walking, cycling, and e-scooters to make it easy to navigate between villages.

Gensler estimates that the one million on-site trees will capture 22,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. 

“Forests and green corridors make up the majority of the site,” Mulcahey said. “Some areas will remain wild to foster biodiversity, while others will provide trails, plazas, and gardens for daily community use.”

The area will also stretch out to the river Tigris, with a 260-meter-tall skyscraper marking the area, named the Al Rasheed Gateway tower. 

A National Pavillion will also be placed in the development, a 110-meter building that developers call “a civic symbol of renewal.” 

Baghdad Sustainable Forests falls at the center of a city on the precipice of the future, rebuilding at a time rich with environmental opportunity.

“Rooted in the land’s history and ecological potential, the development positions the city for its next chapter — attracting investment, fostering inclusive growth, rebuilding community ties, and celebrating Baghdad’s rich heritage as a center of creativity and exchange,” Gensler summarized.

It is not yet clear when this project is expected to be completed, or how much it will cost, but eye-catching, tree-filled renderings from the architecture firm depict a sustainable and ambitious city core.

Mulcahey summed it up best: “Transforming this neglected land into a living forest district turns a symbol of environmental damage into one of renewal.”

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Header image courtesy of Gensler