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

Thank you

Water and Development in Iraq