Tehran and Baghdad Engage in Key Talks to Preserve Hour al-Azim Wetland
In a recent meeting, Iranian and Iraqi officials addressed the pressing challenges facing the Hour al-Azim wetland, a critical ecological zone straddling the border of both nations. This wetland is currently threatened by severe drought and spontaneous combustion, highlighting the urgent need for collaborative efforts to preserve this vital resource.
During discussions held in Iraq, representatives from Iran’s Department of Environment conveyed concerns regarding Iraq’s management of the wetland’s water rights. They noted that the absence of adequate water supply has led to significant drying of the wetland, which in turn has caused spontaneous combustion. This phenomenon has released substantial amounts of air pollution and smoke, adversely affecting cities in Iran’s Khuzestan province, as reported by doe.ir.
The Iranian officials emphasized the importance of managing water resources from the Tigris River effectively. This management is crucial not only for supplying the wetland’s water rights but also for preventing the escalation of fires in the Iraqi section of the Hour al-Azim wetland. Moreover, controlling this situation is vital to halt the migration of pollutants into Iran, particularly Khuzestan province.
In response, Iraqi officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided insights on the current water levels in reservoirs across the Tigris River. They acknowledged the severe drought conditions affecting the region and committed to ensuring the water rights for the wetland in the upcoming year. The two sides also explored the possibility of deploying firefighting aircraft and helicopters to combat fires and manage the wetland more effectively.
Additionally, the meeting covered the strengthening of scientific cooperation to tackle shared environmental challenges. Iran views collaboration with Iraq as a priority, particularly in addressing sand and dust storms (SDSs) that significantly impact the western and southwestern regions.
On September 15, 2024, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met with Shina Ansari, head of the Department of Environment, to discuss the importance of joint environmental initiatives. He highlighted that a major focus of cooperation with Iraq would be to conduct collaborative activities aimed at resolving environmental issues and to follow up on previous agreements, as reported by IRNA.
A study conducted by four Iranian researchers revealed that the primary sources of sand and dust storms affecting Iran stem from Iraq, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. The report, titled “Dust in Western Iran: the emergence of new sources in response to shrinking water bodies,” was published by Nature on September 27, 2023. It was authored by Azar Beyranvand, Ghasem Azizi, Omid Alizadeh, and Ali Darvishi Boloorani.
The report indicated that the most significant dust sources affecting Western Iran are located near:
- The shores and northwest of Lake Tharthar
- Hour al-Azim Marsh
- The shores of Razzaza and Habbaniyah Lakes
- West Hammar Marsh
Each of these areas has contributed to a substantial number of dusty days in the region, with figures such as:
- Lake Tharthar: 110 dusty days
- Hour al-Azim Marsh: 79 dusty days
- Razzaza Lake: 59 dusty days
- Habbaniyah Lake: 56 dusty days
- West Hammar Marsh: 51 dusty days
The report also noted that the peak dust activity in Western Iran occurred from 2008 to 2012, correlating with the significant shrinkage of major water bodies in Iraq. Seasonal variations in dust sources were identified, with key contributors including:
- Northern and eastern Saudi Arabia in spring
- Deir ez-Zur in Syria’s Aleppo and Raqqa during summer
- Syria’s Homs and Al-Hasakah in winter and spring
Western Iran encompasses the northwestern, western, and southwestern regions of the country. To analyze dust events occurring from 2000 to 2016, meteorological data were collected from 33 synoptic stations through the Meteorological Organization of Iran.
It was found that approximately 1,133.5 square kilometers of regions in West Asia with permanent surface water in 1984 had completely dried up by 2015, becoming potential dust sources. The decrease in precipitation in West Asia from autumn 2007 to 2012, coupled with severe droughts, has contributed to the drying of lakes and wetlands. This has also negatively impacted agricultural productivity in the region, further intensifying dust activity in Western Iran over recent decades.
According to the findings, the primary dust sources influencing Western Iran are predominantly located in Iraq. The reduction of surface water in Iraqi lakes has led to the emergence of new dust sources, resulting in a considerable increase in dust activity in Western Iran in recent years.
In conclusion, the collaborative efforts between Iranian and Iraqi officials are crucial in addressing the environmental challenges posed by the Hour al-Azim wetland and the broader issues of sand and dust storms affecting the region.
