Abdul Latif Rashid
Climate warning
Climate warning
Marine Stephan
16 w
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World Wetlands Day: The Hawizeh marshes of Iraq are under threat
The Hawizeh marshes in southern Iraq are a 20,000-km2 oasis in the middle of the desert, a rich and unique ecosystem, home to exceptional biodiversity and the "Marsh Arabs". Or at least, they used to be. Then came industrialization, mass agriculture, wars, Saddam Hussein’s punishment of the marshes in the 1990s through the draining of the wetland, and now the drought.
Susan Schulman/Funded by the Pulitzer Center
In total, in the 1990s, half a million people were displaced as a result of a "major ecological disaster".
After (partly) recovering from Saddam Hussein's draining, the wetlands are now again at risk of disappearing, and with them, their rich and diverse biodiversity and the cultural heritage of the local Marsh Arabs. The reason? The intense drought the region is experiencing. Climate change, poor distribution of water within the country and the dams upriver (mostly in Turkey), have dramatically reduced the volume of water flowing into the wetlands. The marshes are now half the size they used to be.
But this isn't all. The water is also too salty. With reduced water flow, rising temperatures, and evaporation, as well as saltwater intrusion from the Gulf, salinity levels have rocketed. The result? The reeds died, the plants died, the animals died. And the Hawizeh marshes are now again under threat.
This is a climate warning to the Iraqi government. And I ask them to prioritize the conservation of this rich ecosystem, the survival of its natural wonders and the livelihood of so many people depending on it. Also, the country needs to better allocate its water. Today, it allocates most of it to wasteful intensive irrigation practices (mostly rice, which has almost zero economic impact as the country imports 95% of its rice).
But this climate warning is not only for Irak's government, it is also targeted at Turkey and its disastrous dams, and the world's leaders who need to understand that climate change already has irreversible consequences and that they better act on it now. We can't risk losing our beautiful ecosystems. We need to save our wetlands.
Susan Schulman/Funded by the Pulitzer Center
Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/29/death-in-the-marshes-environmental-calamity-hits-iraqs-unique-wetlands
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16 w
So so sad, this calls for urgent action so as to avoid extinction
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16 w
It is heartbreaking to see the destruction of a once vibrant and unique ecosystem that was home to so much biodiversity and culture of people.
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16 w
urgent intervention is necessary
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16 w
Sad news to hear about the threat
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16 w
We would suffer a significant loss and contribute to an existential threat if we allowed wetlands to deteriorate.
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16 w
@Muhammad_Fahd_Khan completely agree! Wetlands are not only a biodiversity reservoir but also have a significant role to play in the fight against climate change
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16 w
Many wetlands have already disappeared ,everyday we are moving closer to extinction! and some people don't even care!! Proper action must be taken now!
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16 w
This is a very sad state of affairs. Urgent Intervention measures needs to be taken to avoid the extinction.