'Leave our marshes alone': Iraqis fear oil drilling would destroy fabled wetlands

This article from AFP reports on the mounting resistance to oil drilling plans in Iraq's protected Mesopotamian Marshes, focusing on activist Murtada Al-Janabi's efforts to rally local communities against the project.

Villagers and environmental activists are fighting to protect the UNESCO-listed Hawizeh Marshes from Chinese oil exploration that began in 2023. The wetlands, believed to be the biblical Garden of Eden, face threats from both drought and industrial development. Local residents who depend on traditional fishing and buffalo farming fear losing their heritage and livelihoods to oil extraction activities.

• Heavy machinery has already begun seismic studies and road construction within the marsh buffer zones
• Water levels have dropped dramatically due to climate change, upstream dams, and reduced river flows from Turkey and Iran
• The government claims oil activities will occur near but not inside the protected core areas
• Environmental groups warn that oil development could further damage the already fragile ecosystem and traditional way of life