UNESCO Office for

United Nations ﻣﻜﺘﺐﺍﻟﻴﻮﻧﺴﻜﻮ Educational, Scientific and ﻟﻠﻌﺮﺍﻕ Cultural Organization ﻣﻨﻈﻤﺔ ﺍﻷﻣﻢ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪﺓ ﻟﻠﺘﺮﺑﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻌﻠﻢ ﻭﺍﻟﺜﻘﺎﻓﺔ Iraq in Iraq June 2012

Considered one of the Arab region’s most per year, meaning that with the exception of Climate Variability Mapping Vegetation Cover Percentage in vulnerable countries to climate change, , have more water available to One of Iraq’s main Machallengespping Veget ation CoGovernoratesver Percentage in G oofve rIraqnorate (Images of I racquisitionaq date - 23 April 2012) w w w . i a u i r a q . o r g 2 i n f o @ i a u i r a q . o r g Iraq faces a unique set of environmental them than their neighbours. And yet, levels Mapping Vegetation Cover Percentage i n(Im Gaogev eacrqnuoisriatioten sd aotef -I r a23q A pril 2012) w w w . i a u i r a q . o r g is adapting to the increasing i n f o @ i a u i r a q . o r g challenges. The impacts of changing weather of surface water in Iraq’s reservoirs, lakes and (ImPaegrcen tagce qArueai sini tKimo2n date - 23 April 2012) Percentage of cover classes variabilityGover noofrate s the country’s Vegetation climate, Dahuk patterns have already made themselves felt rivers are diminished to critical levels,Pe rcandentage Area in Km2 Anbar 2.0% Percentage of cover classes ± Vegetation Babil 87.2% Dahuk especially in terms of water supply. in recent years, with a higher frequency and minimal management of aquifersAnbar and their2.0 % 74.4% ± Water Babil 87.2% For instance,Basrah two 2years0.5% of severe Erbil Vegetation Cover intensity of extreme weather events and rising recharge has impacted the levelB aandghdad quality of74. 4% Dahuk 99.9% 25.9% Ninewa Water Basrah 20.5% droughtDi yalbetweena 2007 and 2009 Light - Dark Soil environmental degradation throughout the groundwater supplies. Erbil 83.6% Dahuk 99.9% Vegetation Cover Iraqi cover classes were followedKerbala by several19.0% Nin emonthswa of Diyala 25.9% Light - Dark Soil country. As demographic growth puts further Kirkuk 54.5% Water Erbil 83.6% Iraq relies on precipitation falling outside its suddenM isheavysan rainfalls38.9% and storms Iraqi cover classes strain on natural resources that are themselves Kerbala 19.0% Muthanna 1.5% Vegetation Cover Kirkuk borders for more than half of Kitsirkuk water. This54. 5% during Nwhichajaf some 3.parts0% of central Water ever more scarce, the Government’s capacity Light Soil high dependency rate makes itM ivulnerablessan to38. 9% and southernNinewa Iraq29.7% experienced Salah al-Din Muthanna 1.5% Qadissiya 48.4% Sulaymaniyah Vegetation Cover Dark Soil to devise and implement the necessary 3.0% Salah al-Din 20.5% climate change and storage projects in Turkey, rainfall amounts about 200% of Light Soil Ninewa 29.7% Sulaymaniyah 92.2% Salah al-Din Boundary adaptation and mitigation policies is 3 Thi-Qar 10 47.8% Qadissiya 48.4% normal values. The impact Dark Soil and . Discharge rates in the Wassit 44.9% Governorate and boundaries in Iraq vary amongst undermined by a daunting context of post- Salah al-Din 20.5% sources. This map shows names, spellings and administrative boundaries corresponding to the data Sulaymaniyah 92.2% Governorate Boundary developped by IOM and OCHA, August 2008. and Rivers, Iraq’s primary sources of of increased variability Diyala conflict reconstruction. Thi-Qar 47.8% Governorate and district boundaries in Iraq vary amongst surface water, have already fallenWass itot less than44. 9% in weather patterns Anbar sources. This map shows names, spellings and Map Doc Name:IAU_Iraq Vegetation Cover_April 2012.pdf administrative boundaries corresponding to the data Baghdad 9 May 2012 a third of normal capacity and are expected to includes inability to Diyala developped by IOM and OCHA, August 2008. Creation Date: Projection Datum: Geographic WGS 1984 Wassit drop further in coming years. store water during Kerbala Web Resources: http://www.iauiraq.org Anbar Map Doc Name:IAU_Iraq Vegetation Cover_April 2012.pNdfominal scale at A1 paper size: Baghdad 9 May 2012 Outside the mountainous regions of the north “flash” rainfall events, Babil Creation Date: Projection Datum: Geographic WGS 1984 Map data sources: and northeast, a majority of Iraq experiences abandonment of Wassit Qadissiya USGS: MODIS satellite Image 23 April 2012 Desertification Kerbala Web Resources: http://www.iauiraq.org either dry or semi-dry climate characterized agricultural land during Nominal scale at A1 paper size: 4 Thi-Qar Missan Disclaimer: As much as 31% of Iraq’s surface is desert. Babil The designations employed and the presentation of Najaf Map data sources: USGS: MODIS satellite Image 23 April 2012 material on this map do not imply the expression of any by less than 150 mm of rain per year and high (resulting in a lack of Qadissiya opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Years of inappropriate farming practices concerning the legal status of any country, 1 territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the evaporation rates. Current estimates of water preparedness for better rainy seasons), delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. 3 and mismanagement of water resources Thi-Qar Missan Disclaimer: Basrah available for Iraq are 2,400 m per person declining discharge rates in rivers Ninajaf Iraq, the The designations employed and the presentation of have exacerbated the effects of an already material on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the alarming trend of shrinking of the Marshlands, United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, TUR SYR territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the Iraq IRN dry climate and contributed to increasing delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. KWT soil loss and increasing salinization of the SAU rates of desertification. Declining fertility, Muthanna Access to safe drinking water Shatt al-Arab and groundwater in the south.11 Basrah high soil salinity, erosion and the extension The Inter-Agency Information and Analysis Unit is supported by UNAMI TUR sources SYR IRN of sand dunes are pervasive problems.5 The Iraq KWT SAU Government of Iraq reports that 28% of the Socio-Economic Impact Muthanna No access 21% country’s land is arable,6 of which an average In the absence of immediate action, the The Inter-Agency Information and Analysis Unit is supported by UNAMI 16% report that they have daily problems with 7 of 100 000 donum is lost each year to potential implications of Iraq’s current climate 13 Daily problems 16% supply. The situation is much worse in rural 8 degradation. Meanwhile 39% of the country’s challenges are alarming. After having tripled areas, where only 43% have access to safe Weekly 7% surface is estimated to have been affected by to 30 million between 1970 and 2007, Iraqi drinking water.14 Less than weekly 15% desertification, with an additional 54% under population’s continued growth will result threat.9 As a result of declining soil moisture in an increasing requirement for water and Reductions in water supply are having a direct and lack of vegetative cover, recent years have agricultural output. Access and quality of water impact on Iraq’s hydroelectric power plants, Reliable 41% witnessed an increase in the frequency of vast for drinking and agriculture are already poor. a sector which currently generates 20% of dust and sand storms, often originating in the The drinking water network is contaminated the country’s electricity.15 Drought and water western parts of Iraq. by wastewater from leaking sewage pipes and scarcity are also increasingly identified as 12 leading factors behind internal displacement Source: UNICEF/COSIT/KRSO/MOH Multiple Indicator septic tanks. 20% of households in Iraq rely 16 Cluster Survey 2006 on an unsafe source of drinking and a further and unplanned urbanization. Unreliable Climate change in Iraq Fact sheet water supplies and declining soil fertility UN and Government Response a scientific survey of Iraq’s groundwater to Drought and Impact on Agriculture have a profound impact on agriculture, in improve government capacity to address (2007 - 2009) UNDP and UNEP jointly support the Ministry employment and output. This sector, which water scarcity and improve agricultural of Environment on the development of a already withdraws 92% of total freshwater for planning. Dahuk National Environmental Strategy and Action irrigation and food production,17 plays a vital Plan, the Iraq State of Environment and FAO is supporting the Ministry of Water role in Iraq’s rural economy where it currently Ninewa Erbil 18 the development of the Iraq first National Resources and the Governorate of Erbil in the accounts for 36% of all jobs. Sulaymaniyah Communication to the UNFCCC COP. UNDP rehabilitation of infrastructure to enhance Kirkuk During the drought between 2007-2009, has been working to strengthen the capacity water supply and drainage across eight almost 40% of cropland throughout Iraq of the Ministry of Water Resources and governorates. As the lead UN agency for Salah al-Din experienced reduced crop coverage and supporting the development of a National agriculture, food security, environment and livestock were decimated.19 The situation Water Council. UNDP, UNIDO and UNEP have natural resource management under Diyala caused 20,000 rural inhabitants to move in joint initiatives for development of mitigation the International Compact with Iraq Baghdad Anbar search of more sustainable access to drinking approaches, Clean Development Mechanisms (ICI) launched in 2007. FAO supported Wassit water and livelihoods.20 Similar occurrences in and renewable energy. UNDP is also assisting implementation of activities focused KerbalaBabil the future will further increase the pressure on the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) in irrigation and water supply systems, Qadissiya Missan the Government’s infrastructure and provision in developing Local Water Committees to generation of employment through Najaf of quality basic services. improve water governance at the sub-regional small-scale cottage industries, livestock and Thi-Qar level, ensuring that the water supply and veterinary services, seed production, palm Increasingly frequent dust and sand storms Basrah quality issues specific to each sub-region can sector and fish farming. Muthanna (especially severe in 2012) cause significant be properly tackled by the full range of water disruptions in transportation systems in WHO has supported the Ministry of Affected Cropland / users Iraq and result in hundreds of Iraqis seeking Municipalities and Public Works and the Percentage of Cropland medical help, suffering from choking, eye UNESCO is leading the UN Country Team and Ministry of Environment in conducting problems and increased incidence of asthma UNAMI’s efforts to draw up an integrated sanitary inspection for about 1,600 drinking 46% - 56% 31% - 45% 26% - 30% attacks.21 strategy for supporting the restoration of water resources at Suleimaniya, Thi-Qar the Marshlands. UNESCO has also launched and Anbar. WHO has provided technical 6% - 25% 4% - 5% and logistical support to the Ministry of Water Supply by Country Environment to implement environmental Source: FAO, IAU (2009) Turkey awareness and education campaigns. Hygiene awareness campaigns were implemented in 11 Problem Statement: UNDP Water- Climate Change six governorates. Workshop 2010 Internal to Iraq 12 UN Country Team in Iraq, Common Country Syria Syrian Arab Republic 9% Assessment (2009) 4% Islamic Republic Endnotes of Iran 13 UNICEF/COSIT/KRSO MICS 2006 1 Ministry of Environment Annual Report 2010 Iran 14 UNICEF/COSIT/KRSO MICS 2006 2 FAO 2010 7% 15 Ministry of Environment Annual Report 2010 3 FAO AQUASTAT 2009 16 IOM 2011 Annual Report 4 Ministry of Environment Annual Report 2010 17 Water Resources Institute. United Nations World Water 5 Ibid Jordan Development Report 3 2009 Turkey 6 Ibid 80% 18 Iraq Knowledge Network 2011 7 1 donum in Iraq is equal to 2500 sq m, or 0.4 hectares. 19 FAO/IAU Drought Mapping Analysis 2009 8 Iraq National Development Plan (2010-2014) 20 IOM, Emergency Monitoring and Needs Assessments: 9 Iraq Ministry of Environment Annual Report 2009 Post-2006 Displacement in Iraq – 1 October Monthly 10 United States Department of Agriculture, May 11, Report (October 2009) Saudi Arabia 2010. Foreign Agricultural Service, Commodity 21 Problem Statement: UNDP Water- Climate Change Source: Ministry of Water Resources Iraq 2010 Intelligence Report Workshop 2010

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