Advanced completion rates achieved in solving Euphrates salinity and desertification in 3 governorates

BAGHDAD-INA

General Secretariat of the Cabinet confirmed Sunday  the achievement of advanced rates in the project to solve the salinity of the Euphrates basin and desertification in three governorates, while revealing the details of its meetings with several ministries to follow up on it.

 A spokesman for the General Secretariat, Haider Majid, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "the General Secretariat held several meetings with the ministries of planning, agriculture and water resources and a group of academics and specialists in universities in order to develop solutions to address the salinity of the Euphrates River basin and the phenomenon of desertification in the governorates of Diwaniyah, Muthanna, and Dhi  Qar, during which ideas were deliberated and recommendations were referred to the Cabinet .

 Majid added, "The Cabinet issued a decision to support this work, and funds were allocated to the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources," noting that "the two ministries started implementation and achieved advanced rates of completion in the project to address desertification and transform desert areas into green spaces."

 Earlier, the General Secretariat of the Cabinet launched the initiative to plant one million trees in all governorates.

 The General Secretariat of the Cabinet, in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), quoted Secretary-General Hamid Al-Ghazi as confirming during his participation in the initiative that it will contribute in reducing desertification and preserving the environment and climate changes, calling on “all governmental, educational institutions, to support the initiative and the active contribution to it, by planting trees and seedlings in departments, universities and schools.”

 For his part, the Director-General of the Non-Governmental Organizations Department, Ashraf Abdel Karim Al-Dahan, explained that "the initiative includes planting fruit trees and various seedlings of roses, to achieve comprehensive sustainable development, as well as increasing green areas in the capital, Baghdad and the governorates, as part of a national awareness action plan, with the purpose of  Supporting the environment sector and contributing to strengthen the national initiative to support the environment and reduce emissions.