MOP: Strategic plans to protect biodiversity in the marshes

Baghdad - INA

The Ministry of Planning announced, today, Thursday, the provision of data on the marshes for the purpose of rehabilitating, protecting and investing their resources, while indicating the development of strategies to protect biodiversity in the marshes and enhance the livelihoods of local residents.

The head of the Statistics and Geographic Information Systems Authority in the ministry, Diaa Awad Kazim, said in a speech during the launch of the Ministry of Planning of a report on the reality of the marshes in Iraq, and future plans to develop this reality, in line with its inclusion on the World Heritage List, attended by the correspondent of the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The Statistics Authority, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), implemented a statistical survey of selected areas of the marshes in the governorates of Maysan, Dhi Qar and Basra."

He added that "the marshes are not just water bodies, but rather a cultural heritage and a natural resource for many living organisms, including migratory birds, fish and plants. It is a unique environment that represents biological diversity, which enhances environmental sustainability and the ability to withstand climate change, in addition to being a rich and abundant source for the local economy," noting that "the importance of the role of statistics in assessing the reality of the marshes is to provide the necessary data and make round-the-clock decisions on how to preserve the marshes, improve their management, and modify the most affected areas with the aim of treating them, developing plans to rehabilitate and protect them, and directing efforts to invest their rich resources."

He pointed out that "the most important goal of this study is to ensure a better future for the marshes by developing strategies to protect biodiversity, improve water quality, and enhance the livelihoods of local residents," indicating that "enhancing cooperation and work with various governmental agencies and international and local organizations to build effective companies that contribute to achieving the goals, in addition to raising community awareness of the importance of the marshes and their role in maintaining the ecological balance."

He stated, "We look forward to the important statistical operations, most notably the development of statistical products using technology and electronic data exchange techniques to ensure their publication according to international standards and the accuracy of the specified timings," noting that "it is preferable to increase interaction with partners, stakeholders, the private sector and all data-producing entities to establish partnerships in the field of data and provide the best services, which is what we seek to provide in presenting the future vision to prepare a new plan." He stated that "through statistical cooperation and coordination, we rely on converting exchange and data electronically and adopting these electronic technologies and infrastructure that were employed in the electronic population census," noting that "cooperation with these data-producing entities and the use of electronic applications in the statistical era is a good opportunity to meet with members of the Statistics Development and Coordination Committee to learn about this vision and this future plan from statistical transformation to a new transformation based on investigations and technology."