While Iraq’s conflict and political developments have dominated the headlines since it was invaded in 2003, the nation has quietly been making progress on a host of environmental issues … and today was announced as the 192nd Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

First adopted in 1992, the biodiversity treaty aims to conserve biological diversity, promote sustainability and ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources.

Today’s announcement comes following a series of significant efforts by the Iraqi Government to tackle environmental issues of global significance.

Since 2003, for example, the country has been making major efforts to restore the Iraqi Marshlands around the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers — the largest wetland ecosystem in the Middle East, with major environmental, biological and socio-cultural significance. These Marshlands, along with their rich biodiversity and unique cultural heritage, had been almost entirely destroyed through upstream dam construction and drainage
operations.

In a programme assisted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and with the support of Italy and Japan, Iraq has made significant progress in restoring the Marshlands, their ecological viability and sustainable livelihoods to the Marsh Arabs. Iraq is now working towards making the Marshlands a National Park and gaining its listing as a World Heritage Site.

“Iraq’s accession to the Convention on Biological Diversity is testimony to their commitment to protect biodiversity in spite of the huge challenges currently facing the Government and its citizens,” said Ahmed Djoghlaf, the convention’s executive secretary.” Their accession takes place at a time when the international community needs to redouble efforts to achieve the 2010 biodiversity target. The commitments made by Iraq serve as an example to the global and universal alliance so urgently required for protecting life on our planet. I greatly look forward to welcoming Iraq as a Party to the Conference of the Parties at its tenth meeting to be held in Nagoya, Japan, in October 2010.”

Djoghlaf further expressed the hope that in Nagoya, the Convention will become universal by welcoming the three remaining Governments that have yet to ratify the Convention: Andorra, Somalia and the US. (The Holy See is also a non-party.)

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