Iraq launches ‘strategic’ programs to combat desertification

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Ministry of Agriculture announced on Wednesday the implementation of several ‘strategic programs’ to combat desertification, focusing on both structural and biological solutions. These include the construction of trenches, earthen berms and tree planting. The initiatives aim to address the growing challenges of drought and desertification in the country.

“The department has developed several strategic programs to combat desertification, which are integrated into the government’s broader agenda,” said Bassem Kanaan Abdul Jabbar, Director General of the Forestry and Desertification Department in an interview with state run newspaper Al-Sabah. “One of these programs involves creating trenches and earthen berms in Al-Fajr district, Dhi Qar, to mitigate the impact of sand dunes in the area.”

He further outlined biological measures, including the planting of drought-resistant trees along the highway connecting Diwaniyah, Dhi Qar, and Muthanna governorates. “Similar initiatives involve planting trees using drip irrigation systems along highways as natural barriers to halt the advance of sand dunes,” he explained. “Additionally, we plan to plant dry cuttings in February to stabilize the dunes in Baiji, Salah Al-Din.”

Expanding forest projects is another key component, with over 500,000 seedlings distributed to government institutions and departments. “We are also focusing on increasing the cultivation of Paulownia trees, which serve as effective barriers against dust storms,” Abdul Jabbar added.

The Ministry is also launching a campaign to propagate seeds of endangered medicinal and aromatic plants to ensure their preservation and reintroduction. “These trees will act as windbreaks, protecting cultivated fields from weather impacts,” he said, highlighting that the campaign will target governorates including Karbala, Najaf, and Anbar.

Iraq is facing a severe crisis of desertification, with nearly 39% of its land at risk of becoming desert and around 54% of agricultural land suffering from degradation. The country’s arid climate, combined with unsustainable land use, deforestation, and the over-extraction of water resources, has exacerbated this issue. Frequent sand and dust storms, intensified by shrinking green cover and soil erosion, now plague many regions, posing risks to public health and agriculture. Diminishing water levels in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, due to upstream damming and climate change, further strain Iraq’s efforts to combat desertification and sustain its agricultural productivity.