Shafaq News- Najaf
Authorities in Iraq’s Najaf province have removed around80% of water hyacinth infestations from rivers and canals across the province,officials reported on Monday.
Atheer Hatif Hadi, director of the Irrigation and DrainageMaintenance Directorate, told Shafaq News that cleanup operations have beencompleted in several waterways in Al-Mashkhab district, while work continuesalong the Euphrates River.
“The remaining infestations are expected to be cleared inthe coming weeks as part of a wider campaign ahead of the rice-growing season,”he added.
Native to South America, water hyacinth is considered oneof the world’s most invasive aquatic plants. It was introduced to Iraq aroundtwo decades ago and has since spread across multiple waterways. The species hascaused environmental damage in countries including Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Kenya,and parts of southwestern France. It has been listed by the European Commissionsince 2016 among invasive species requiring control measures due to itsecological impact.
: Water Hyacinth spread threatens farmland in Iraq’s Najaf
