The Iraqi drain

Excerpt

But by March 2003 only seven percent of the wetlands remained. After the Gulf War Saddam Hussein aggressively drained the marshes to secure water for agricultural irrigation, though the evacuation of Shiite tribes was perceived by some as retribution against the marsh residents who fought against Hussein. In April 2003, after Saddam's departure, local tribesmen blew up dams and dikes and by the spring of 2004 about 20 percent of the marshes—now more than 30 percent—were reflooded. Because the destruction of the marshes is symbolic of Saddam's rule, their restoration has become a priority for many Iraqis.

Marsh restoration is crucial for the ecological health of the upper Persian Gulf, whose waters are now noticeably degraded; for maintaining biodiversity in the area; for providing a stop-over for millions of migrating birds; and for the survival of an ancient culture. Funds from the U.S. Agency for International Development, as well as Canada, Italy, and Japan, have allowed a broad-based coalition of Iraqi scientists, local government officials and marsh dwellers, along with international groups of researchers, to explore the restoration potential. “We are getting favorable and pretty dramatic results in a single …