In Ramadi City
Anbar launches tree-planting campaign to combat desertification
ANBAR – The Municipality of Ramadi in Anbar governorate announced Wednesday the start of a campaign to plant trees along street median strips to combat desertification, reduce rising temperatures, and improve the local climate.
Anbar, Iraq’s largest governorate by land area, is increasingly grappling with climate challenges, including desertification, water scarcity, and the impact of human activities. These issues threaten the livelihoods, agriculture, and ecosystems of the area.
Abdul Majid Suleiman, head of the Municipality’s nursery, told the Iraqi News Agency that over 25,000 trees have been planted in Ramadi district this year alone, with the campaign ongoing. He emphasized that the initiative not only aims to combat desertification but also to lower temperatures by using trees as windbreaks to improve the local climate.
Suleiman highlighted the importance of shade in urban areas and along roadsides as crucial for enhancing the green belt. He called on experts to raise environmental awareness in educational institutions to cultivate “a new environmentally-friendly generation.”
Suleiman stressed that tree-planting campaigns must adhere to specific standards to ensure environmental sustainability, focusing not just on planting but also on the growth and maintenance of trees. Despite previous efforts in Anbar, more work is needed due to the region’s harsh desert climate, which necessitates a robust green belt and increased forest concentration both around and within cities.
Iraq is the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change, with approximately 100 square kilometers of land lost to desertification each year, as reported by the UN and the Iraqi Ministry of Environment.
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