Desk Study on the Environment in Iraq Desk Study on the ... - UNEP

There is very limited information available on fish diversity in Iraq, although the World Resources
Institute (WRI) states that the combined Euphrates and Tigris watershed supports 71
native fish species (plus a further 21 introduced species) of which 28 are endemic to the
basin. None is indicated as being under threat. 54
3.7 Institutional and administrative issues
Main problems:
•
no effective institutional or administrative infrastructure for environmental management
or sustainable development;
• inadequate legislation;
•
lack of participation in global and regional environmental agreements and processes.
• Context and limitations
It will be important to identify existing national expertise on environmental issues so that
these experts can work alongside international and regional agencies involved in the postconflict
clean-up and reconstruction process. At present, however, there is little readily available
information, although it can be assumed that institutional capacity related to the environment
is likely to have been weakened by the policies of the Iraqi government (e.g. restrictions
on international communications) as well as by the impact of UN sanctions (difficulties in
obtaining equipment or participating in international environmental processes). Early efforts
will be needed to address this information gap.
A new administration has yet to be established following the conflict of March/April 2003
and the fall of Saddam Hussein’s government. It is clear that the former administration for
environment and natural resource issues will have included skilled professionals whose knowledge
will be used within the new administrative structures, once established.
• Government
In 2002, the key sustainable development coordination mechanism in Iraq was the Planning Commission,
with the Environment Protection and Improvement Council, National Human Settlements
Commission, the Regional and Rural Planning Centre, the General Federation of Iraq
Women, and the Iraq Economists Society also involved in this field. 55 Regulation and protection
of the environment came under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social
Affairs, through the Higher Council for Environmental Protection and Improvement. 56 The Ministry
of Irrigation was responsible for coordinating water resource management and development,
while Irrigation Directorates undertook management and development at the state or district level.
Information on the use of water by agricultural, household and industrial sectors was the responsibility
of the Central Statistical Organization within the Planning Commission. Information was
distributed through the Agriculture Planning Directorate, the Construction, Housing and Services
Planning Directorate, and the Industrial Planning Directorate.
CHRONIC ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
The Ministry of Irrigation implemented various projects related to desertification, including
the stabilizing of sand dunes to prevent them from encroaching on river systems. The Ministry
of Irrigation, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, also undertook a wide
array of water development projects. 57
• Agriculture institutions
The Ministry of Agriculture was responsible for organizing ownership of agricultural lands,
contracts with farmers, cooperatives and agricultural companies, in addition to enhancing
on the Environment in Iraq
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