Ending the Silence By To v a Fl e m i n g & Dr. Mi c h e l l e St e v e n s Photo of wild hogs in foreground and reed dwellings the distance by Nik Wheeler

Ecocide and Renewal in ’s Mashlands oisy fans carve paths of relief through the hot dominate the majority of images, women in black wail thick midsummer air of a classroom at the in grief, men scream into cameras, and children stare University of Barcelona. Small paper make- with eyes that appear much older than their years. shift fans flutter like migrating butterflies The intellectual blackout imposed by the Baathist re- acrossN the rows of tables as thirteen Iraqi scientists from gime, in combination with the Western media’s portray- the Marine Science Center, University of Basra, al of the , obscures a vibrant and passionate Iraq, prepare to present their research on the Mesopota- people with a rich cultural and ecological history as well mian Marshes, Shatt al Arab , and Gulf to a group as an ecological crisis of tragic proportions occurring of international peers who have convened at the World throughout the and watersheds. The Congress for Middle Eastern Studies, July, 2010. media distortion also conceals the people trying to save This is the first time these scientists have had a chance the Tigris, Euphrates, and . to present their research to an international audience. Surrounded by to the west and south, the Tigris “Scientists in Iraq have been living in a blackout for thir- and Euphrates bring life to the Mesopotamian re- ty years because of the gion, and an abundance dictatorship. They are of greenery and diversity starved for dialogue to the Iraqi landscape. As with the internation- the rivers begin to con- al community,” said verge in southern Iraq, Raida Fahmi, Chair of they create a system of Hima ’s interconnected lakes, Board of Directors. mudflats, and In addition to the that historically covered isolation of from over 5,790 square miles the rest of the world, (15,000 km2), an area the Western media has twice the size of the Ev- played a role in dis- erglades. This complex tancing and distorting and diverse our perception of the makes up the al Ahwar Iraqi people and land- marshes— it is the largest scape. Search images Photo of Ma’dan community in 1974 by Nik Wheeler system of wetlands in the of Iraq on the internet and you will find a landscape Middle East and Western . with no horizon save crumbling buildings. The earth The marshlands support a dazzling array of wildlife in- and sky are draped a shroud of beige. American soldiers cluding one to ten million wintering waterfowl (approx- 20 imately two-thirds of the western Asian population), tens of centuries. There is no doubt that the the Euphrates soft shelled turtle, and the endangered people desperately want their environment endemic Basra reed warbler. The marshes provide an to return to its natural state … All the people economically important fishery and a spawning ground dream of is the marshes full with fishes, birds, for migratory fish and shrimp species that come to the cows, and buffalos with modernized passage- marshes from the Gulf to breed, as well as an ancient ways and islands, because it is this vision that and vibrant culture. is in harmony with their spiritual heritages as Theologians believe the Mesopotamia Marshes are found in their songs, poems, and tales. the site of the . They are the birthplace of the three Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, The Marsh have become an integral part of the and Islam. When healthy the marshes sequester carbon, ecosystem through their management of the ecosystem prevent the dust storms now devastating air quality and over thousands of years. Traditionally, their homes float- exacerbating health issues, bring essential nutrients to ed on carefully crafted islands made of reeds; the struc- the marine environment, and support a traditional cul- ture and craftsmanship of the homes date back to the ture with roots dating back 3000 years. Additionally, the time of the Sumerians. buffalo are a cultural icon marshes support the agricultural production of dates, and keystone species of the ecosystem; they are vital for millet, rice and wheat. survival for the Ma’dan culture. This traditionally managed landscape spans the border During the 1980’s the marshes became a battleground between southern Iraq and and is home to 350,000 of the Iran-. In 1991, in an act of cultural geno- to 500,000 Ma’dan, or . These predomi- cide and ecocide, ’s regime drained 90% nantly Shi’ite Ma’dan do not necessarily see themselves of the marshes in an attempt to flush out resistant fac- as part of the arbitrary borders of political boundaries, tions believed to be taking refuge in the marshes; the but as belonging to the marshes themselves. Dr. Mi- United Nations Environmental Program proclaimed it to chelle Stevens interviewed some of the Ma’dan that fled be “one of the world’s greatest environmental disasters”. Iraq to San Diego and recorded their thoughts on the The Ma’dan were forced to flee. They became environ- relationship with the marshes: ”We grow like a bird in mental refugees squatting on land they held no claim the marsh. Everything is in front of us. We canoe inside to. Finally, with the fall of Saddam Hussein the Ma’dan the marshes for reeds, for the animals and for fish…the began returning home with their as locals marshes are like our body, our blood. You cannot miss began reflooding the marshes, haphazardly breaking one part. It all should stay as marsh.” down the dikes and . In 2003-2005, Iraq had good In the Marsh Arab culture, nature and culture are inex- water years and local restoration resulted in the rehydra- tricably intertwined. The Iraqi poet, Dr. Rasheed Bander tion of up to 60% of the marshlands. In some areas fish al-Khayoun spoke of the potency of this relationship: and reeds recovered quickly; however, according to the article “The Restoration Potential of the Mesopotamian The people of al Ahwar need water in the Marshes of Iraq” published in Science, 2005 by C.J. Rich- marshes … Their spiritual need surpasses the ardson and colleagues, only 10% of the newly flooded material need, since draining the marshes areas were functioning as healthy systems. means putting the boats out of service and an end to regional poetry specific to al-Ahwar, The marshes can be geographically broken up into and to singing, which can only be performed three areas. The Hammar marsh lies to the south and in that theatre of water and reeds and rushes. west of the Euphrates, the Central marsh is located be- Indeed, draining the marshes means the death tween the rivers and the Hawizeh of a way of life that people have practiced for marsh is found to the east of the Tigris and is fed both by

The Tigris River 21 the of Tigris and the Karkeh River that runs restore and preserve the biodiversity and long lasting through Iran. In October 2008, the Haweizeh marsh was cultural heritage of this region”. added to the List of Ramsar Wetlands of International Additionally, Dr. Malik, Director of the Basra Marine Importance. The same year Iran began diverting water Science Center (BMSC), and Dr. Adil Yousif al- Handal from the , drying this spectacular marsh. (BMSC) asked Stevens to help them organize a confer- In fact, water diversions in , , and Iran ence outside of Iraq to inform the international com- coupled with several years of drought are devastating munity on emergency freshwater scarcity for the people the Marshes and the Iraqi people at large. Last summer and marshes of southern Iraq. “We want the world to hydroelectric plants along the Euphrates were forced to hear our voice,” said Dr. Yousif, “We held several con- shut down, leaving people with no electricity in tem- ferences in Iraq about the marsh problem but these re- peratures as high as 135 degrees Fahrenheit. A recent ar- mained local, and no one outside Iraq could know about ticle in Radio Free Europe noted that according to, Aoun it, we have very bad contact with the outside world due Dhiab, the Director of the National Center for Water Re- to the ongoing situation.” sources, [Iraq], … “the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are ‘in In response, Dr. Stevens contacted Matthew Hall and a dire state,’ especially the Euphrates, ‘which has been Tony Miller (Centre for Middle Eastern Plants, Royal Bo- reduced to a mere creek due to insufficient quantities of tanic Garden Edinburgh), organizers for the World Con- water released by Turkey and Syria.’" Additionally, the gress for Middle Eastern Studies, Barcelona (WOCMES), UN recently released a report that the Tigris and Euphra- Spain 2010, to arrange two symposia featuring the work tes could be completely dry by 2040. of ten Iraqi scientists on biodiversity. Reduced flows to the Shatt al Arab River (created by The call for international help from the Iraqi scientists the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers) have and the organizing of the two symposia prompted the resulted in a decrease of nutrients available to marine formation of the non-profit Hima Mesopotamia: Water life and fisheries. Additionally, the reduction of fresh wa- and Peace in the Middle East. Stevens organized round- ter flows allowed the intrusion of salt water into the riv- table discussion at WOCMES to discover the best role for ers as far north as Basra. The water is not only salty but the international community and Hima Mesopotamia increasing in temperature. These changes in the aquatic in this ecological crisis. environment have reduced Shad populations by 75% Dr. Nadia Al-Mudaffar Fawzi, Assistant Professor of and are adversely affecting other aquatic organisms such Marine and Environmental Pollution, Marine Chemis- as shrimp and the fisheries that rely on them. try Department, BMSC, brought an incredible amount In April 2009 the Basra Marine Science Center, Univer- of expertise, insight, and focus to both the panels and sity of Basra, hosted the fourth International Conference the roundtable and played an integral role in shaping on the Rehabilitation of the Iraqi Southern Marshes. the mission of Hima Mesopotamia. Dr. Fawzi was the Because of her years of work with wetlands and Nature only Iraqi woman from the BMSC at the conference. Her Iraq (Iraq’s first conservation organization performing approach to the crisis in the watershed is inclusive and restoration work in the marshes), conference organiz- holistic, “We must work to protect the entire Tigris and ers asked Stevens to be the keynote speaker. Stevens Euphrates watershed, not just the Mesopotamian marsh- describes the experience of arriving in Basra: “The en- es,” she said. She is currently working in the marshes vironment I witnessed in Basra had shattered buildings conducting socioeconomic studies and interviewing and rivers so polluted with the algae (Dunaliella sp) that Ma’dan women who may not otherwise be accurately the water turned bright pink. Garbage was everywhere, represented in such studies. and stray dogs snuffled through the garbage, well fed Dr. Fawzi’s holistic approach to the watershed found but in ill health. Heavy particulates from dust caused consensus among the roundtable participants at WOC- the air to appear sepia-toned and visibility was similar to MES. Other ideas included the necessity of looking at dense fog…Reduced flows have exacerbated water qual- solutions on a local, regional, and international scale; ity problems.” In fact, the second leading cause of death the importance of a socially inclusive response includ- among Iraqi children is diarrhea from drinking polluted ing economic concerns, business leaders and unlikely water. allies (such as working with oil companies to obtain wa- Frustrated that the many local conferences held in- ter through mitigation) in solutions; the creation of a side Iraq were doing little to create meaningful change network of support, outreach, and communication with in upstream water use, five hundred scientists attending and between grassroots organizations along the Tigris the conference in Basra signed a petition to “appeal to and Euphrates watersheds; and finally, and perhaps most governments of the neighboring countries and interna- importantly, telling the stories of the scientists, and tra- tional societies to help by insuring and assigning a spe- ditional and local people living along the watershed. cific share of water for the Mespotamian Marshes. For The discussion between Iraqi scientists (with hands- thousands of years the cultures and ecosystem of the on experience with the watershed and firsthand knowl- al Ahwar marshes have flourished and been sustained edge of the local and regional situation) and the larger through life giving , we request enough water to international community generated and clarified Hima’s 22 purpose and mission: Today, Hima Mesopotamia is gathering international Hima Mesopotamia strives to connect people working support, and has an international advisory board includ- on water issues throughout the Middle East and to draw ing members from Nature Iraq, Basra Marine Science the support of the international community to these Center, Institute of Scientific Research, Doga groups by telling their stories. Dernegi, Institute Of Oceanography & Fisheries, Alex- andria, , International Buffalo Federation, Royal Our Vision: The restoration and maintenance of the Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Centre for Environmental ecology and cultural heritage of the Tigris Euphrates wa- Stewardship and Conservation, Pakistan Wetlands Pro- tershed. gramme, and researchers from Universities across the Our Mission: To nurture the eco-cultural heritage of the United States. Tigris-Euphrates watershed through Additionally, Hima Mesopotamia is planning two 1) Outreach, coordination and capacity-building among symposia for the Society of Ecological Restoration Inter- grassroots organizations working throughout the water- national conference in Merida, Mexico. The symposia shed, policy makers, and the international community. will bring together representatives from Iraq, Turkey, 2) Synthesis of scientific information and traditional and Kuwait for the first time. Communication among and local knowledge. grassroots organizations and scientists along the water- 3) Providing a forum for cultural and environmental in- sheds until now has been virtually non-existent, and is formation exchange between individuals, local, national, vitally important to creating equitable water allocation and international groups via art, media, public speaking and the restoration of the . and scientific conferences. It seems that after several decades of war in Iraq, we forget that people are never solely victims but are filled At the conference in Barcelona, a young Turkish re- with vibrancy, passion, love, art, dreams, and hope. We searcher told Stevens about Doga Dernegi—a grassroots forget that humanity’s battlegrounds are also ecological movement opposing the Ilusu which would rival systems. Wildlife and people are both affected by war. Three Gorges Dam in China. In order to meet European Additionally, when we think of the instruments of war, Union greenhouse gas emission requirements, Turkey we tend to think of human such as aircraft, turned to hydroelectric power and is currently building missiles, automatic weapons, and tanks. Amidst stories 1700 new dams (many in Kurdish areas) along the wa- of the dominant contemporary world view that us tersheds. These dams will affect over 2 million people we are separate from the natural we forget that the arse- in Turkey and will drastically reduce water flows down- nals of war include the manipulation or management of stream. When Dr. Stevens traveled to Turkey, she found ecological life support systems in acts of biocide. Water that while many of the dams may not be stopped, their will be one of the most divisive issues in the coming operations could be improved. Currently, water is held years. We have the unique opportunity to use water as behind the dams for 2-5 hours; this completely dewa- a way to encourage cooperation and help heal cultural ters the riverbed; then a surge of 3 meters of water is strife in this ecologically and culturally rich region. sent downstream. These conditions create an environ- ment in which aquatic and riparian life cannot hope to For more information visit: survive. The and the European Union re- www.hima-mesopotamia.org fused to fund the dam; no environmental or social as- sessments have been done by the government and no To follow Dr. Stevens research in Iraq and Turkey visit: consideration for archaeological sites has been made. www.iraqmarshresotration.blogspot.com The Ilusu dam will drown the 10,000 year old city of . Tova Fleming is a student at CSU Sacramento, and has been While in Turkey to conduct research on public opin- working on the formation of Hima Mesopotamia with Dr. Mi- ion about the dam and learn about the ecological con- chelle Stevens for the past year. She is currently serving on the ditions of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, Stevens met Board for Hima, and hopes to pursue graduate studies focused with Tuba Kılıç and Engin Yikmaz of Doga - on the relationship between story and restoration ecology. negi in Istanbul, in the lush garden of the Sphendon Hotel. She arranged a meeting with Doga Dernegi’s Dr. Michelle Stevens is an assistant professor at California President, Guven Eken; the connection galvanized a State University, Sacramento, in the Environmental Studies De- partnership working for social justice and ecological partment. She has been working on the cultural and ecological integrity along Mesopotamia’s two rivers. Following restoration of the Mesopotamian Marshes since 2001, inspired the meetings with Doga Dernegi, the group arranged by working as Project Manager for Suzie and Azzam Alwash for Dr. Stevens’ travel and research on the Tigris and working on the Eden Again Project. She is now executive direc- Euphrates Rivers for the next three weeks. Stevens vis- tor of the Hima Mesopotamia: Water and Peace in the Middle ited dams and talked to engineers and evaluated eco- East NGO, and can be reached at s t e v e n s m @c s u s .e d u logical and social conditions on each watershed. 23