Environmental Crisis in Iraq: 1 Million Trees Lost in Two Years

Environmental Crisis in Iraq: 1 Million Trees Lost in Two Years
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Iraq has lost one million trees in the last two years due to drought, climate change, and human activity, according to the environmental group Green Vision Iraq. The article from Rudaw.net highlights a severe environmental crisis, noting that Iraq’s green space coverage is significantly below the global average.

The report also details the economic and health consequences of the crisis. Climate change is causing daily losses of around $1 million and an increase in respiratory illnesses. Reduced water flow in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, attributed to upstream dam construction by Turkey and Iran, has resulted in the lowest water reserves in decades.

The United Nations has identified Iraq as one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. In response to the crisis, the Iraqi parliament’s agriculture, water, and marshes committee has called for a national strategy to combat desertification, which now affects over 20 areas across the country.