Shafaq News/ Iraq's Ministry ofAgriculture has launched a large-scale afforestation campaign across allgovernorates to reduce desertification, mitigate rising temperatures, andexpand green belts in the country.
Focus On The Agricultural Sector
The initiative is Iraq’s third sucheffort in recent months, following previous campaigns in March andmid-September. "This unprecedented government push reflects the growingfocus on the agricultural sector’s role in addressing environmental, climate,and health challenges," said ministry spokesperson Mohammed Al-Khazali.
The first campaign aimed to plant 5million trees, but exceeded expectations with 6.4 million trees planted,Al-Khazali told Shafaq News, citing widespread enthusiasm for the project.
"Iraq and the rest of the worldare grappling with climate change, water shortages, and desertification, whichhave led to more frequent dust storms. Afforestation is seen as a key part ofthe solution, and the government is prioritizing it," he explained toShafaq News.
Al-Khazali urged publicinstitutions, civil society organizations, and citizens to actively participatein planting tree species suited to Iraq’s climate.
Local Efforts
Meanwhile, Baghdad’s municipalauthorities have started their own afforestation drive, aiming to plant over100,000 trees during the current agricultural season. More than 200 volunteerteams are involved in the effort, according to local officials.
In Karbala, a local beekeepersassociation has launched a separate campaign to plant 1,000 eucalyptus saplingsand 150 bottlebrush saplings, benefiting the environment and local beepopulations.
Ali Al-Marshidi, head of the KarbalaBeekeepers Association, said the initiative seeks to promote the planting ofnectar-producing trees that are vital to the region’s bees, as well as toexpand green spaces and improve air quality.
Iraq’s Ministry of Education is alsocontributing to the national effort by organizing extracurricular activities topromote afforestation. The ministry holds annual competitions for the"most beautiful school garden" to encourage environmental awarenessamong students.
PM Directives, Criticism
The recent push to plant 5 milliontrees follows a directive from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, as Iraqbattles the effects of climate change and drought, which has affected as muchas 60% of the country, according to the Green Iraq Observatory.
Omar Abdul-Latif, a member of theobservatory, said the campaign is a positive step but stressed the need forselecting fast-growing, low-water trees and using slow-irrigation methods tosustain them.
However, the afforestation effortshave drawn criticism from some experts. Agricultural consultant Adel Al-Mukhtarsaid Iraq’s water shortages make large-scale irrigation impractical and risky.
"The country is facing a severewater crisis, and international organizations are warning about impendingdrought. Yet the government is moving forward with tree planting using floodirrigation, which is unsustainable," he said.
Al-Mukhtar called for the use ofmodern irrigation techniques, including solar-powered systems, and stressed theneed for permanent water sources to sustain afforestation projects. He warnedthat a dry winter could lead to widespread tree deaths, undermining the entireeffort.