Post on 27-Jul-2019
Water and Development in Iraq Rabat 17 Dec 2010
Hassan Janabi Iraq’s Ambassador to the
UN Agencies in Rome
Central Marshes Irrigated Agriculture
Development Phases in modern Iraq
1. Evolution as a modern state 1920s – 1970s.
2. Mismanagement , bad policies and war destruction 1980s – 2003.
3. Recovery, transition and new governance arrangements 2003- Present (still uncertain)
Phase 1. Evolution as a modern state 1920s – 1970s
Natural river system with abundant water and fertile land.
Science - based planning & implementation of water resources development projects.
Construction of critical water control infrastructures across the country.
Agrarian Reform (not particularly successful)
Massive land reclamation projects .
ايرانBaghdad
Kuwait
Jordan
Mosul
Erbil
Najaf
Kirkuk
Kut
Amara
Ramadi
Samaw
Nassirriya
Basra
Baquba
Karbala
Sulaimaniya
Hilla
Duhok
Diwaniya
Syria Tikrit
Saudi Arabia
Turkey
Euphrates
Tigris
Karkha R.
3%
85%
12%
Iraq
Turkey
Syria
Countries contributing to Euphrates R.
56%
32%
12%
Iraq
Turkey
Iran
Countries contributing to Tigris R.
48 BCM
28 BCM
M.O.D Marshes
Central Marshes
Hammar Marsh
Hawizeh Marsh
Tigris
Euphrates
Shatt al-Arab
Amara Barrage
The Marshlands in Southern Iraq
Phase 2. Mismanagement , bad policies and war destruction 1980s - 2003
Extremely centralized authoritarian approach and poorly (or badly) focused programs.
Diversion of resources towards military needs.
Draining of the vast Mesopotamian wetlands.
War destruction & adaptation of fertile and water rich lands to serve military operations rather than crop production.
Declining in water resources availability due to dam constructions in neighboring countries..
Kiban 31 BCM
1975 Biricik 1.2 BCM
2000 Kerkamish
0.2 BCM1999
Tabqa 12 BCM
1975
Tishreen 2 BCM
1999
Dam Construction since mid 1970s
Kerkha 8 BCM
2001
Karun 14 BCM
2001-2006 (Series of dams)
Duz 3.5 BCM
1962
Ataturk 50 BCM
1990 Kerekaya 10 BCM
1987
0200400600800
10001200140016001800200022002400
Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb
Euphrates River Mean Monthly Discharges m3/s
Month Ave. 1925-73
Month Ave 1975-05
Annual Mean 1925-73
Annual Mean 1975-05
703 m3/s
958 m3/s
Loss of 9.1 BCM /year
2005 – 1925Euphrates
Water Resources changes
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1973-74 1975-2009 1999-2009
Euphrates River Annual Average Discharge at Iraq’s border in BCM
Total Annual flow 2009
1937-74
3. Recovery, transition and new governance arrangements 2003- present
• Rehabilitation, recovery and emergency intervention (lawlessness).
• New Constitution (2005) with two main Articles related to water resources management, namely articles 110.8 and 114.7 (first attempt to divide power/authority).
• Enormous investment opportunities (Investment Law No.13 in 2006).
• Empowered Civil Society.
The Major Challenges
1. Centralization VS Decentralization/Federalism.
2. Authority & responsibility. Who is responsible for what (MWR, MMPW, Baghdad Mayoralty, KR Gov. and Governorate Councils.
3. No water-sharing agreement with riparian countries.
4. Climate change impact (prolonged drought)
The Major Challenges… Continued
1. Transformation of agriculture (i.e changing role of MoAg, water saving technolgies…etc).
2. Lack of effective framework for coordination between the three levels of government as well as horizontally (MWR, MoAg, Baghdad Mayoralty, Min of Environment).
3. Ambiguous constitutional articles (likely to change) .
New measures
• Reuse of drainage water for wetlands restoration purposes
Fresh water ecology Vs Salt water ecology
Ibn Najim Marsh
Dalmaj Lake