لائحة التراث العالمي و دورها في الاستدامة البيئية لأهوار جنوبي العراق

الملخص EN

The marshes of southern Iraq form the largest natural freshwater ecosystem in West Asia and the Middle East.

Because of its environmental, social, economic and cultural importance, It is the cradle of the first human civilization (Civilization Cradle).

It is of interest to researchers because it has a role in ancient and modern human thought.

Some even knew it as the Garden of Aden.

The marshlands' environment has been severely damaged by intentional drying process which was practiced by the previous regime during the eighties and nineties from the last century.

As well as the water share problems with the countries of the upper basin in the establishment of dams and reservoirs in the headwaters of rivers Tigris, Euphrates, Karkh, and Karun.

Until the danger of drying reached it lost more than 94 % of the area of the marshes during the year 2000 as the area of the marshes reached 872 km 2 of the total area of the marshes amounting to 9297 km2 in 1976.

Through a program the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, during the UNESCO General Conference which held on November 16, 1972.

That agreement concerned with classification, naming and preservation sites of special interest to humankind, be it cultural or natural which has been signed and ratified by 189 countries, which according to it locations that included in this program get financial aid under certain conditions by the United Nations UNESCO Fund because that location is a landmark or heritage represents the legacy of human civilization over thousands of years and it is not limited to a specific group or community so it must be preserved with international capabilities not individual.

Thus, it entered the marshes in the list of world heritage 2016 year as one of the natural and cultural components.

The environmental sustainability for the marshes of southern Iraq represents transition process from the current situation (Retracted spaces, Biodiversity is lost and population migration) to a better economic, social, environmental and urban situation.

It is a complex and multi-dimensional process include conscious strategy and operations with specific goals and phased goals and long-term with a general purpose in a comprehensive dynamic process happened in a location with a series of structural and functional variables that infect the components of that place dependent on volume and quality control available natural and human resources to get it to the maximum possible utilization in the least amount of time possible to achieve economic and social well-being.