Baghdad-INA
Sari Al-Zaidi, a project specialist at the United Nations Development Programme, announced On Wednesday, nine key areas for addressing the challenges facing the marshes and promoting biodiversity.
Al-Zaidi told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): “The project to preserve biodiversity in the marshes is one of the important projects, as it focuses on studying the effects of climate change on humans and biodiversity, in cooperation with the Iraqi government.”
He added that "the project identified a number of challenges facing the local community and the ecosystem in the marshes, and nine main axes were identified to address them, including determining the minimum water quotas necessary for the sustainability of the marshes, which contributes to supporting water management at the national level, as well as enhancing cooperation with neighboring countries regarding water quotas for the marshes by opening paths at the academic and expert level to preserve biodiversity."
He pointed out that "the project prioritizes the protection of native fish species, especially after their numbers declined following the wars," explaining that "there is cooperation with the Ministries of Agriculture and Higher Education, as well as the University of Basra, to reintroduce some local species, including the barbel, in preparation for releasing them into the marshlands within controlled environments."
He added that "the project also aims to enhance the stability of water resources to ensure the survival of local populations by providing water, which is one of the most important elements of stability," noting the "rehabilitation of four reverse osmosis (RO) stations and a rainwater and marsh water treatment plant to provide drinking water for buffalo."
He stressed that "the project also includes supporting the livelihoods of local residents by developing traditional industries and contributing to the marketing of their products."
