Some Aspects of the Environment and Biodiversity in Iraq

Iraq’s environment faces several interrelated pressures, including population growth, urbanization, the need for more water due to inefficient agricultural and industrial water use, the aftermath of three wars, poor land use planning, urban sprawl, and encroachment on delicate ecosystems. Such environmental pressures are affected by increased droughts, frequent sand and dust storms, declining biodiversity, and contamination of marine waterways. The distribution range of unique Iraqi species of flora and fauna is minimal. Rangelands have lost their native plant cover due to overgrazing and inadequate management. Several threats affect biodiversity in Iraq, such as desertification, soil salinization, changes in land cover and land use, land mines, trading, and hunting. The delicate ecosystems and threats to biodiversity affected the cultivation of crops in Iraq, such as Date palms, Deforestation, Animal Production, Native and Migratory Birds, and Freshwater and Marine Fishes. Dates are economically significant because they are used in various manufacturing industries and as food items. Date palm trees were destroyed much more quickly after the Iran-Iraq War, as well as climatological conditions, lack of equipment, and pesticides with the distribution of date diseases. Most of the country’s forests are closed, broadleaved forests, primarily made of oak, located in its northern regions. Human overexploitation, shifting agriculture, forest fires, and unchecked grazing have destroyed large tracts of natural forest. Animal husbandry and livestock raising have long been practiced in most of Iraq. Goats, sheep, and cattle are the primary livestock produced in Iraq. Buffalo and camels are raised on a small basis. Livestock and poultry breeding are significant factors in increasing the food supply in Iraq. Iraq is among the countries frequented by wild birds in huge numbers and species due to the quantity of water, green spaces, warm climate in winter, and the lack of predators. Iraq is situated in the bird migration route that connects East Asia and East Africa. At least 400 migratory birds visit Iraq, and the marshes of Al-Ahwar are home to rare bird species found nowhere else in the world. Recently, the status of the deputed birds has decreased in terms of numbers and species due to a set of reasons, the most important of which is the phenomenon of over-hunting, which has negatively affected the numbers of birds, especially birds that are threatened with extinction and included in the red list. This chapter also covers the following topics: fish meat consumption, freshwater and marine fish species, aquaculture production, wild catch, organizations, and centers.