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| Marsh Arabs poling a mashoof through the Mesopotamian Marshes |
Covering 15,000 sq km, it was thought to be the third
largest wetland in the world. An interconnected network of channels, island and
lakes, teaming with fish, reptiles and amphibians, and forming a major stopping
off point for migrating birds in their tens of thousands. The only mode of
transport was that of boats, slowly paddling between reed beds growing 8 foot
high. Lying at the confluence of the Tigris and the Euphrates
rivers, this was the original Garden of Eden.
This is how it had been for thousands of years, with the
Marsh Arabs developing their own culture and way of life, living within the
wetland. The Mesopotamian Marshes were a vital source of fish, reeds, and other
natural resources to the whole of Iraq and the surrounding areas.
With vast desert on all sides, the marshes were a hugely important source of fresh
water for all biodiversity in the region. That was until the 1990s. In a bid to
punish the Marsh Arabs for an attempted revolt in 1991, Saddam Hussein had
channels and canals built to divert the water away from the marshes, around the
Tigris and Euphrates , to empty directly into
the Gulf. Within months the wetlands started to dry, until eventually they were
reduced by 93%, in what The United Nations Environmental Programme called the
worst environmental disaster of the last century.
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| Marsh Arab Girl, Iraq |
For over a decade, what used to be a fertile, green and
productive habitat, only dust and sand remained, forcing the tribes who had
lived there for centuries to seek lives elsewhere. That was until the 2003
invasion of Iraq ,
and Saddam was disposed. This gave one man, Azzam Alwash, an Iraqi who fled
Saddams regime, his chance to return to his native country and try to
restore this important cultural and biodiverse ecosystem. On his return he founded
Nature Iraq , which now works
to help restore and preserve Iraq ’s
natural heritage.
After destroying some of the drainage canals, Azzam started
the project to restore the marshes to their former extent, re-flooding what had
become arid desert. Within months the water had started to return, and in 2007
Nature Iraq
had succeeded in restoring 50% of the wetlands. However, this success was short
lived, with the current estimate now lying at around 30% of the marshes re-established.
According to Azzam, this is due to various damming projects further up the
Euphrates and Tigris , which are restricting
the natural flow of water back into the wetlands. With plans to remove more
drainage canals, hopefully a larger proportion of the marshes will return to
its former glory.
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| The Southern Iraqi marshes |
The past 10 years have seen monumental changes to the
wetlands, and the beginnings of recovery. Around 40 species of birds
have been recorded in the marsh, including the recolonisation of imperial
eagles (Aquila heliaca), great white pelicans (Pelicanus onocotalus), greater flamingos
(Phoenicopterus roseus), and squacco
herons (Ardeola ralloides). In 2011,
with help from Birdlife International, Nature Iraq recorded a staggering 40,000
marbled ducks (Marmonaretta angustirostris)
in a single flock, accounting for roughly 60% of the global population. In
addition to this, they also spotted the endangered Basra reed warbler (Acrocephalus griseldis), and it is thought that the population in
the Mesopotamian marshes accounts for 90% of all individuals.
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| Marbled duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris) |
Whilst many of the mammals once present in the marshes,
including Indian crested porcupines (Hystrix
indica), bandicoot rats (Bandicota),
and marsh grey wolves (Canis lupus)
are now extirpated, it is hoped that time will allow the re-colonisation of European
(Lutra lutra) and smooth coated
otters (Lutrogale perspicillata),
both of which species are found on the Iran-Iraq border.
This watery world has global ecological significance, and
the beginning of its recovery calls for great celebration. In recognition of
this turning of tides, in April 2013 Azzam was awarded the Goldman Prize, known
as the “green Oscar” for environmental activism, and in August this year the Iraqi
Council of Ministers have designated the Central Marshes of Iraq as the nations
first National Park. Hopefully this is the beginning of a successful recovery,
and if the water continues to flow for the next decade, will see the Garden of Eden continue to flourish.
