Wildlife At Risk as Iraq's Marshlands Shrink Again

Dr. Alwash is chief executive of Nature Iraq, which is the Iraq affiliate of the UK-based BirdLife International. The organization has just completed its fifth winter survey of Key Biodiversity Areas across the country.

A rare smooth-coated otter (Photo courtesy U. Vermont)

Along with sightings of several Globally Threatened and endemic birds, the survey teams discovered an endemic sub-species of otter that has been seen so rarely that some scientists believed it to be extinct in the Marshlands.

"We were very excited recently when we discovered an endemic sub-species of otter, the Vulnerable smooth-coated otter, Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli," said Mudhafar Salim, leader of Nature Iraq's KBA surveys in the Mesopotamian Marshes in the south of Iraq and birding section leader. "This indicates that there's plenty more still to find!”

Since 2005, Nature Iraq has been working in coordination with Iraq's Ministry of the Environment to conduct survey and monitoring work at Key Biodiversity Areas.

"Nature Iraq's KBA project has sought to locate and assess potential areas of biological diversity, and to install a program of monitoring,” said Dr. Alwash.

This winter's KBA surveys covered 65 sites - 12 in Kurdistan, and 53 in the middle and south of Iraq - including 14 new locations.

"Two teams have been working hard to record the unique ecology of Iraq,” said Ibrahim Al-khader, BirdLife's director for the Middle East. "The BirdLife Partnership will continue to support Nature Iraq's work to identify and conserve sites globally important for biodiversity."

"This winter we observed a flock of 410 lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus, and considerable numbers of Eastern imperial eagle, Aquila heliaca - both Vulnerable - in Kurdistan," said Korsh Ararat, leader of Nature Iraq's KBA surveys in northern Iraq.

The Mesopotamian Marshes are especially important for wintering waterbirds. "As one of the most important wetland complexes in the Middle East, if not the world, these marshes are essential for the conservation of many species of birds as well as other wildlife," remarked Salim.

An African sacred ibis in the Marshlands (Photo courtesy U. Vermont)

"We observed African sacred ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus, and African darter, Anhinga rufa, making the Mesopotamian Marshes one of the only known sites in the Middle East for these birds," said Salim.

"In addition, we recorded over 5,000 marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris, 2,340 black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa, and seven greater spotted eagle, Aquila clanga - all Globally Threatened or Near-Threatened species," he said.

For centuries, the marsh region between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers was vital for production of fish and rice until 90 percent of it was drained by Saddam Hussein's regime, forcing the local Marsh Arabs to flee the area. "During this time average temperatures in the area rose five degrees Celsius," said Dr. Alwash.

Since Hussein was ousted in 2003, rehabilitation of the marshes has begun. Water has started to return to the internationally important wetland, restoring a vital habitat that is critical for the survival of biodiversity in the region.

Recently the wetlands covered more than 9,000 square kilometers, making surveys a challenging task. Now, however, the marshes are shrinking again as a result of drought and intensive dam construction and irrigation schemes upstream.

"Flooding has been disrupted by the dams built in Turkey, Syria and Iraq itself," said Dr. Alwash. "The natural flow system is not going to return until and unless the dams outside Iraq are actively managed as part of a basin-wide coordinated management of the Tigris and Euphrates. In response, Nature Iraq is currently producing a drought management plan."

Nature Iraq also is running an awareness program aimed at hunters in the Basra region. "Our hunting campaign will help to conserve Globally Threatened species such as marbled teal," said Dr. Alwash.

Nature Iraq is part of BirdLife International's Born to Travel campaign, which aims to improve the conservation status of migratory birds and their habitats along the African-Eurasian Flyway. Through the Born to Travel campaign, Nature Iraq is seeking financial support in order to protect migratory birds.

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