Desertification in Iraq is rapidly becoming a serious environmental crisis, with over 700 households already having been uprooted and transferred to Najaf in 2024 as water scarcity and desertification intensify. According to the United Nations, Iraq is the world’s fifth most vulnerable country to climate change and there are grave concerns regarding water and food security. The depletion of water resources and the spread of desertification are exacerbating the problem leading to conditions that are conducive to frequent and severe sandstorms. These environmental conditions endanger the health and livelihoods of the populations in those areas that are most impacted.
See also: Explaining desertification: natural causes and human contribution
Adel Al-Mokhtar, an agricultural expert, explained that desertification and water scarcity are contributing factors to the growth in poverty.
“Desertification has significantly reduced arable land, resulting in lower agricultural productivity and a negative impact on livelihoods, particularly in rural areas.”
Furthermore, the water shortage, which is made worse by decreasing rainfall and river levels, has placed an additional burden on the agricultural sector which is a vital source of employment for many Iraqis. These environmental issues have compounded economic problems and are contributing to increased poverty rates.
According to the Iraqi Ministry of Environment, desertification has ravaged 71% of the nation’s arable land, with an additional 100,000 dunams (10,000 hectares) becoming barren each year. This degradation has reduced the amount of cultivable land to just 14 million dunams and has led to a 70% decline in agricultural output.
Tahseen Al-Mousawi, an environmental expert, stressed the urgency of the problem to DevelopmentAid, stating that the desertification in Iraq could expand to 90% of its territory. Al-Mousawi explained that the country is currently in the third stage of desertification in which soil degradation is almost irreversible.
“The advanced stages of desertification make recovery nearly impossible,” he warned, highlighting the critical need for effective measures.
Al-Mousawi blamed the deteriorating conditions on climate change, ineffective water-sharing agreements with neighboring nations, and insufficient implementation of anti-desertification regulations. He called for careful approaches to water usage such as recycling and the construction of green belts to help to prevent further desertification.
“A comprehensive agricultural strategy and regional cooperation are crucial to addressing water scarcity and halting desertification,” he added.
In contrast, in late July the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources reported that progress had been made with spokesperson Khaled Shamal noting improvements as a result of the expansion of the 5 million tree initiative and the conversion of 4 million dunams (1.6 million hectares) of desert into green cover. He also mentioned plans to reclaim 7.5 million dunams (3 million hectares) of agricultural land. Shamal stated that combating desertification requires significant efforts in water management, sustainable agricultural practices, and forest protection although he acknowledged that many challenges persist, saying:
“International cooperation and comprehensive strategies are essential to effectively tackle this issue.”
Adding some historical context to the issue, environmental expert Ali Najee traced the origins of desertification in Iraq to the early 1970s.
“Desertification began as a minor issue but has escalated to affect 70% of both agricultural and non-agricultural land,” he explained to DevelopmentAid.
Najee attributed this escalation to rural-to-urban migration, prolonged conflicts, and internal security issues that have exacerbated land degradation. He criticized the lack of effective governmental action, stating,
“Iraq’s response to desertification has been minimal, relying too heavily on unpredictable rainfall.”
He called for more robust solutions, including solar energy farms and green belts, to combat desertification.
“The government’s lack of serious engagement and the ineffectiveness of individual efforts highlight the need for a substantial, coordinated response,” Najee concluded.
