Iraq embarks on a project combating desertification in the western regions

INA-  BAGHDAD

The Hammad Basin project is one of the important strategic projects that aims to reduce the scourge of desertification in the western regions. It has significant environmental repercussions and will contribute significantly to improving the environment throughout Iraq.

 The director of the Hammad Basin project, Ibrahim Munadi Ali, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The Hammad Basin project is one of the projects of the Department of Forestry and Combating Desertification of the Ministry of Agriculture and is located in the Qaim district, west of Anbar."

 He pointed out that "the project aims to reduce the severity of desertification in the western regions, as well as providing services to the residents of the Badia."

He added that "the project is part of the interests of the Arab Center for Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands of the League of Arab States and is linked to a series of agreements and future plans with the center," noting that "the number of sites affiliated with the project are ten, distributed in the Western Desert.

He added, "The Hammad Basin project was carried out with the participation of 4 countries, Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Saudi Arabia, and its area is estimated at 13 million acres. Most of the crops in it bear the harsh weather and harsh environmental conditions and grow on their own at the beginning of each season by scattering the seeds they produce."

For his part, environmental expert Taha Yassin stressed that "the Hammad Basin project has great environmental repercussions on the Badia, as it works to combat desertification by modern scientific and technical methods.

 He added, "The project is very important to improve the environment throughout Iraq," calling on "the concerned authorities to provide the necessary support to return the project to full operation because of its great importance."