COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS HENRY J. HYDE, Illinois, Chairman JAMES A. LEACH, Iowa DOUG BEREUTER, Nebraska CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey, Vice Chairman DAN BURTON, Indiana ELTON GALLEGLY, California ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida CASS BALLENGER, North Carolina DANA ROHRABACHER, California EDWARD R. ROYCE, California PETER T. KING, New York STEVE CHABOT, Ohio AMO HOUGHTON, New York JOHN M. MCHUGH, New York ROY BLUNT, Missouri THOMAS G. TANCREDO, Colorado RON PAUL, Texas NICK SMITH, Michigan JOSEPH R. PITTS, Pennsylvania JEFF FLAKE, Arizona JO ANN DAVIS, Virginia MARK GREEN, Wisconsin JERRY WELLER, Illinois MIKE PENCE, Indiana THADDEUS G. McCOTTER, Michigan KATHERINE HARRIS, Florida TOM LANTOS, California HOWARD L. BERMAN, California GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American Samoa DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey SHERROD BROWN, Ohio BRAD SHERMAN, California ROBERT WEXLER, Florida ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York BARBARA LEE, California JOSEPH CROWLEY, New York JOSEPH M. HOEFFEL, Pennsylvania EARL BLUMENAUER, Oregon SHELLEY BERKLEY, Nevada GRACE F. NAPOLITANO, California ADAM B. SCHIFF, California DIANE E. WATSON, California ADAM SMITH, Washington BETTY McCOLLUM, Minnesota CHRIS BELL, Texas THOMAS E. Moon EY, SR., Staff Director/General Counsel ROBERT R. KING, Democratic Staff Director SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE MIDDLE EAST AND CENTRAL ASIA ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida, Chairwoman STEVE CHABOT, Ohio JOHN M. MCHUGH, New York NICK SMITH, Michigan JO ANN DAVIS, Virginia MIKE PENCE, Indiana THADDEUS G. McCOTTER, Michigan ROY BLUNT, Missouri JOSEPH R. PITTS, Pennsylvania KATHERINE HARRIS, Florida GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York HOWARD L. BERMAN, California ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York JOSEPH CROWLEY, New York JOSEPH M. HOEFFEL, Pennsylvania SHELLEY BERKLEY, Nevada ADAM B. SCHIFF, California CHRIS BELL, Texas YLEEM POBLETE, Subcommittee Staff Director GREGG RICKMAN, Senior Professional Staff Member DAVID ADAMS, Democratic Professional Staff Member MATT Zweig, Staff Associate AMY SERCK, Staff Associate (II) C O N T E N T S Page WITNESSES Gordon West, Acting Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Asia and the Near East, U.S. Agency for International Development ............................................ 4 John Wilson, Senior Environmental Officer, Bureau for Asia and the Near East, U.S. Agency for International Development ............................................ 6 Fernando R. Miralles—Wilhelm, Assistant Professor, Departments of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami ............. 18 Azzam Alwash, Senior Project Advisor, Eden Again ............................................ 46 LETTERS, STATEMENTS, ETC., SUBMITTED FOR THE HEARING Letter addressed to Azzam Alwash from Dott. Corrado Cline, Ministry for the Environment and Territory ............................... - 3 Gordon West and John Wilson: Prepared statement .... 8 Fernando R. Miralles—Wilhelm: Prepared statement ... . 22 Azzam Alwash: Prepared statement ...................................................................... 47 (III) UNITED STATES AND THE IRAQI MARSHLANDS: AN ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2004 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE MIDDLE EAST AND CENTRAL ASIA, COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, Washington, DC. The Subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10:02 a.m. in Room 2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Chairwoman of the Subcommittee) presiding. Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. The Subcommittee will come to order. Thank you so much. I want to thank the witnesses who will be testifying this morning and during this hearing on the ecological disasters that have taken place in southern Iraq. Thank you so much for being here, and I thank the audience members as well. What is important to understand about this situation is that this disaster was manmade. It was the product of the corrupt, terror- ridden government of Saddam Hussein. This region, known as the “Eden of Iraq,” was destroyed. Saddam's regime built dams, dikes, and canals to drain these ancient marshes to punish the Marsh Arabs for their support of the Shi'ites who rebelled against his forces immediately after the Persian Gulf War in 1991. Because they were accused of hiding rebels, deserters, and other opponents of Saddam, all Marsh Arabs were punished. Their way of life, their homes, and their very existence was pushed to the edge of extinc- tion. Yet, Saddam did more than evict thousands of people from their homes. He brought ecological devastation to this ancient area. These once thriving wetlands were drained by over 90 percent. En- tire habitats were ruined, water quality was drastically diminished, and climate conditions were affected. Health conditions resulting from this slaughter are yet to be fully known. The economy of the region that depended on the marshlands was also ruined. Fishing in the Persian Gulf has suffered as well. Now that Saddam Hussein and his criminal regime are part of i. ºnhappy history, attention must turn to restoring the marsh- an OIS. While Congress chose not to fund this important effort last year when the Administration asked for a total of $100,000,000, today we must reexamine the issue. There are several projects under way toward reconstructing the area, and I understand the USAID is (1) 4 Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. We will also hear from Dr. Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm from the University of Miami's Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, he is also working on a project for restoration of the marshlands. Additionally, we will hear from Mr. Gordon West, Deputy Assist- ant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. Mr. West is responsible for all USAID programs for the Asia region. Thank you, Mr. West. USAID has taken a clear lead in working in restoring the marsh- lands. I know that your administrator has taken a particular inter- est in the marshlands, and we thank Andrew for that. Also from USAID, Doctor John Wilson, the Senior Environmental Officer for USAID’s Bureau for Asia and Near East, will testify. All of our witnesses today will explain to the Subcommittee not only what needs to be done for the restoration of the marshlands but what the costs, both human and material, will be to bring this restoration to reality. Saddam Hussein's wanton destruction of the marshlands and the lives of so many has left lasting damage to the environment and to Society. His actions here were yet one more sign of a brutal dic- tatorship that had been left to weave its evil intent on the land of Iraq. An area this vital to so many people spread over such a wide area needs to be brought back to life in order to erase the scars of a dictator. As our witnesses relate their findings and rec- ommendations to the marshlands, I hope that they will further de- tail the extent of the destruction and particularly the human price paid for this horrific punitive act. I look forward to hearing the testimony of our witnesses today, and we will begin with Mr. West. Thank you. All of your statements will be made a part of the record, and you will feel free to summarize as you wish. Thank you. Mr. West. STATEMENT OF GORDON WEST, ACTING ASSISTANT ADMINIS- TRATOR, BUREAU FOR ASIA AND THE NEAR EAST, U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Mr. WEST. Chairman Ros-Lehtinen, distinguished experts and guests, I thank you very much for this opportunity to present to the Subcommittee on behalf of USAID concerning work in the Iraqi marshlands. First, just for clarification on the record, although I do oversee Asia, for the last year my primary responsibilities have been di- rectly overseeing all work in Iraq. So that has been my over- whelming task for the past months. I must say I am not an environmentalist, so I am going to leave the details and the specifics on the scientific end to Dr. Wilson and other experts today. To echo your statement, our Administrator, Mr. Natsios, is pas- sionately concerned of the status of the Marsh Arabs and the marshlands themselves as represented by the pictures all over his office walls. 6 selves, the various ministries who have oversight in this multi-sec- torial area. Beyond that, we also have been able to lead the development of a framework for international cooperation. In addition to United States interests, we note that Canada, Italy, Australia and Japan, to mention a few, have already stepped up and are very interested in becoming actively involved in trying to find solutions and pro- vide resources toward the problems faced in the marshlands. I would like to now turn to Dr. Wilson for a more detailed exam- ination of both findings of our initial research and the best means for helping to restore the marshlands, Doctor John Wilson. Thank you so much, Ms. Chairman. Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you so much, Mr. West. Dr. Wilson. STATEMENT OF JOHN WILSON, SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL OF- FICER, BUREAU FOR ASIA AND THE NEAR EAST, U.S. AGEN- CY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Mr. WILSON. Chairman Ros-Lehtinen, distinguished members of the audience, I appreciate this opportunity to discuss and testify before the Subcommittee on USAID's efforts to restore the Iraqi marshlands. The Mesopotamia marshlands once comprised more than 20,000 square kilometers of interconnected lakes, mudflats, and wetlands. These marshes were spread over an area twice the size of the Ever- glades, and they served as home for the Marsh Arabs for the past 5,000 years. As we just heard from you and Gordon West, over the course of the past decade the regime of Saddam Hussein systematically and maliciously drained and destroyed these globally important wet- lands. By 1999, the drainage of the marshlands was largely over. The only marshland left of any note was the northern port of the al Hawizeh marsh, which straddled the Iraq-Iran border. By the beginning of 2003, just 7 percent of the marshland re- mained. The marshlands had been dispersed and decimated. An area once known for its cultural richness and biodiversity had largely been destroyed. Although the situation is dire, there are signs of hope. There has been recent reflooding throughout the marshlands. This reflooding is due to a combination of heavier than normal snowfalls in the North, the deliberate destruction of structures by the people in the area, the opening of gates by the Ministry of Water Resources, and the release of water by Iran to the east. Recent imagery from NASA shows that what was once 7 percent of the remaining wet- lands is now 30 percent, so there are signs of hope. The dynamic scale and complexity of any effort to assist the Marsh Arabs and rehabilitate the marshlands will require an inter- national partnership of donors, humanitarian groups, technical ex- perts and direct stakeholders working toward a common vision of what is both desirable, realistically achievable and sustainable. The U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, in close collaboration with the Coalition Provisional Authority and the Iraq Ministry of Water Resources, are leading an interagency effort to develop this vision and framework for action. 9 Tamarix and other desert species. Dust storms are now prevalent in the former marsh areas. The next steps in the marsh assistance program include more on-the-ground in- vestigation and discussions with Iraqi officials to understand the drainage system and develop a precise inventory of all structures. People in the marshes want clean drinking water, mosquito control, jobs, health care, and improved security. Marsh- based activities alone will probably not provide an adequate economic base. The pre- vious regime's aggressive policies draining the marshes and promoting unsustain- able wheat-growing as a monoculture undermined the region's economic base. I. INTRODUCTION Historical Background: The Iraqi Marshlands In little more than a decade, Saddam Hussein's regime systematically destroyed one of the world's largest wetlands ecosystems. This environmental disaster, per- petrated in the roughly 20,000 square kilometer marshlands of southern Iraq, an area more than twice the size of the Florida Everglades, has been compared in scale to the drying up of the Aral Sea in Central Asia and the deforestation of the Ama- zon. The area was once famous for its cultural richness and biodiversity. The marshes were the permanent habitat for millions of birds and a flyway for billions more migrating between Siberia and Africa. Sixty-six bird species may now be at risk. Other populations are thought to be in serious decline. Coastal fisheries in the Persian Gulf used the marshlands for spawning migrations, and they served as nursery grounds for shrimp and fish. Now fish catches have been significantly de- creased. The marshlands also once served as a natural filter for waste and other pollutants in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, protecting the gulf which has now be- come noticeably degraded along the coast of Kuwait. The indigenous marsh dwellers already have a special place in the anthropological and travel literature for their alluring way of life, living in harmony with the envi- ronment on manmade reed islands and along the periphery of the marshes in rel- ative isolation. They may have numbered a half a million in the 1950s and a quar- ter of a million in the early 1990s. In 1991, a populist Shi'a uprising at the end of the Gulf War brought down the full and brutal weight of the Baghdad regime. The military raided settlements, killed tens of thousands of Marsh Arabs—although the actual number may be higher, burned settlements, and killed livestock, destroy- ing the core of the local economy. The period from 1991 to 1997 was marked by engineering programs which drained the marshes through the construction of manmade rivers and canals of mas- sive proportions and overblown names. They diverted water from the marshes to ir- rigate vast areas for uneconomical and unsustainable wheat production, fill huge de- pressions or ponds to evaporate, or drain into the Shatt Al Arab. A disproportionate share of the country's limited resources was channeled into these works. By 1999, the draining of the marshes was largely over. The only remaining marsh of any note was the northern portion of Hawizeh which straddles the Iran-Iraq border. The other two marshes, Hammar and Central to the west, were totally desiccated. At the beginning of 2003, only seven percent of the original marshlands remained. However, there has been some recent reflooding throughout the marshes. This water appears to be from a combination of heavier than usual snows in the north, the de- liberate destruction of structures by people in the area after the war, the opening of gates by local government officers, and the release of water by Iran to the east. Marsh Dwellers: Identity, Settlement and Rights As recently as the 1970s, there was a limited government presence in the marsh- lands. The Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s brought the Saddam Hussein regime in full military strength, and the displacement of tribes closest to the border began. Marsh dwellers were moved from Hawizeh in 1984 so that a dike for gun emplacements and a large army base could be built. The dike effectively drained large areas of the marsh and started the people on a series of forced moves over the succeeding 15 years. It was also the most sustained contact with the government to date. The marsh dwellers were said to have strongly supported the Iraq government during that war. The situation became more unstable with the Gulf War, and there are re- ports that both marsh dwellers and outsiders escaped into the marshes for refuge, this time earning the wrath of the Iraqi army. Following the Gulf War in February 1991, the Shi'a population rebelled against the regime after active outside encouragement, apparently taking control of most of the South. In March, the government brought in tanks and helicopters and regained control through the brutal killing of 100,000 or more people and the wholesale de- struction of cities and towns. The drainage of the marshes was then put into high 10 gear, becoming one of the highest government priorities, despite the huge invest- ment required. The period also marked an expanded effort to force the marsh dwell- ers into internal displacement or foreign exile. Roughly 100,000 southern Iraqis are in border refugee camps in Iran; an uncertain number are in Saudi Arabia. No one is certain how many marsh dwellers live within the former or still existing marsh- lands, but estimates suggest 100,000 to 150,000 other marsh dwellers have moved farther outside the area, usually to the cities in the South. Given the social upheaval during the past 20 years, intensifying over the last 12, the team was particularly interested in better understanding the extent to which this treatment was uniform across the marshes, the degree of displacement and so- cial disorder, and strategies for economic assistance in such a war-torn environment. Diversity within the Marsh Dweller Population Marsh Arabs are members of nine major indigenous tribes and live within and on the margins of the marshes. Initial findings of a USAID-funded demographic cen- sus and public health survey, indicate that there are roughly 85,000 people who are Marsh dwellers still living in or residing on the margins of the marshes. This num- ber is roughly double what people generally have believed to still be in the area and a third of population 20 years ago. In addition to the Marsh Arabs there are periph- eral dwellers, not members of those nine tribes, who utilize the marshes directly or indirectly. There are five major patterns of settlement and economic use of the marshes for those who are living in marsh, on its periphery, or were forced into internal or ex- ternal exile. These differences have important implications for deciding who are to be the beneficiaries of the marshlands program. 1. Marsh Arabs living inside the marshes in traditional patterns, having a long history of living on small, isolated islands. There are marsh dwellers still residing in the interior of Hammar marsh in small communities. This is an area written about the earlier travelers' ac- counts. The one settlement visited, named Albu Ajaj in Al Chibayish, was first displaced in 1991 and moved as a group eight times in nine years, only to be brought back by the army to within a kilometer of where they began. They spoke of burned houses and killed livestock. They now live in both reed and unbaked mud brick houses and have boats for fishing, water buffalo for a major part of their diet, and minor agricultural productivity. These people are suffering from malnutrition and water-borne diseases and drinking un- treated and unfiltered water directly out of the marsh. They have neither schools nor primary health care. 2. Marsh Arabs who had lived in the marshes but were displaced to drained areas on the margin of the present marshes. Displaced dwellers were moved between six and sixteen times during a nine year period. Among the early displaced people were the dwellers in Turaba in Hawizeh marsh on the Iran border, who were relocated in 1984 when the army built a dike and large base on their village site. Many more were dis- placed in 1991after the Shi'a uprising. 3. People living stably on the edge of newly reflooded marshes with a mixed economy. Villages of people who have historically lived in cement-surfaced brick houses now reside along the periphery of Hammar marsh. These people were never displaced during the Saddam Hussein regime. They practiced a mixed econ- omy, working in agriculture with palm trees intercropped with other crops, growing wheat, and tending sheep and goats. They also exploited the marshes with boats: fishing, birding, and collecting reeds. Those activities ceased with the drainage of the marsh in 1991, but the population quickly returned to marsh activities in mid-April with the reflooding. 4. People living stably on the margin of the newly reflooded marshes who pre- viously did not use the marsh as part of their economy. Villages which were equally stable historically, its residents not having been displaced during the years of drainage, also reside along the western periph- ery of Hammar marsh. Here, the people grew palms, intercropped with win- ter wheat and summer rice. This season is the first time in 12 years that they have been able to grow rice, a good income earner, because of the re- flooding of Hammar. These people have never exploited the marshes, except by drawing its water for field crops. They do not fish, hunt, have boats, col- lect reeds, or make mats. 12 PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS Based on the historical background and recent research conducted regarding the marshlands and the local residents, USAID has reached the following preliminary conclusions. These conclusions inform the Agency's program objectives and ap- proach. After twenty years of almost continuous wars, sanctions, and persecution of the local people, the area is bereft of a stable economy and desirable employ- ment opportunities. Marsh-based activities will probably not provide an ade- quate economic base to this savaged area. Despite their ethnic homogeneity, there are a number of distinct patterns of economic utilization of the marsh dwellers, both voluntary and involuntary. The most surprising pattern is by those living on the periphery: some prac- ticed a mixed economy of agriculture and marsh use, while others only prac- ticed agriculture, despite their physical proximity. With the reflooding of areas of the marshes, people often moved quickly to re-exploit the areas, tak- j up boating, fishing, and reed harvesting where sufficient reeds were avail- alole. Although there has been considerable physical and social upheaval during the past twenty years in the marshes, there is also a remarkable degree of social continuity, given that tribes or sub-tribes usually moved as a group from loca- tion to location by the government. The key role of tribal elders has remained largely intact. People in the marshes are requesting clean drinking water, mosquito control, employment opportunities, health care, and improved security. Many inter- nally displaced people and external refugees are expected to return to the marshes in the coming months and years. They ask for social services that have never been accessible to them in the past but ought to be expected of any representative civil society in the future. More on-the-ground investigation and discussions with the Ministry of Water Resources district offices are needed to understand the drainage system and develop a precise inventory of all structures. Some portions of Hawizeh and Hammar marsh still retain native vegetation and good water quality. These regions may be a seed source and faunal popu- lation base for restoring the drained marshes. By contrast, Central marsh has suffered massive drainage, and little wetland remains. Vast areas of former marsh are now barren or are sparsely covered with Tamarix and other desert species. Dust storms are now prevalent in the former marsh areas. Larger than expected quantities of water were present in southern Iraq, and some of the formerly drained wetlands have recently been reflooded II. USAID PROGRAM OBJECTIVES In response to the human and ecological conditions described above, USAID, in concert with international and local Iraqi stakeholders, has developed the following objectives for its 12-month program. To construct an accurate environmental, social, and economic baseline of the remaining and former marshlands to plan interventions and measure their success; To assist with the repatriation and resettlement of marshland dwellers in the region, who will require viable economic opportunities and social institutions that are fair and equitable and give them a voice; To improve the management of existing marshlands and explore options to restore adjacent drained marshes; and To develop and reach a broad consensus on a long-term comprehensive wet- land restoration strategy integrated with a regional social and economic de- velopment program. Elements of the Program Approach The major elements of the program's approach are to: Integrate economic development and ecosystem marsh management; Implement restoration and social economic assistance programs through pri- ority pilot projects; Collect and monitor data for reflooded sites; and 13 Develop local capacity in government and universities in marshland manage- ment and restoration. U.S. Agency and International Donor Participation In the highly dynamic, post-war situation, the U.S. Agency for International De- velopment is leading an interagency effort with the U.S. State Department's Bureau for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) to develop an action plan for marshland restoration. USAID and State/OES work closely with other government entities through the Interagency Marshlands Subgroup, the first of many anticipated special task forces addressing major environmental issues in Iraq. The subgroup includes representatives from the State Department, Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency, Fish and Wildlife Service, and other agencies. The subgroup meets regularly to explore technical issues, review donor participa- tion, and monitor progress. It is an aim of the U.S. government to internationalize the program, recognizing that the program's ultimate success depends on both Iraqi and international participation and consensus. Thus far, the following bilateral do- nors have expressed an interest in supporting or directly participating in the pro- gram: • Great Britain—supplied a technical expert on the second field trip to the marshlands; • Australia—provide technical experts on marshlands and agricultural soil sa- linity problems and develop desalination strategies through the Common- wealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), a recognized leader in the field; • Canada—will provide technical expertise in biological monitoring and wildlife conservation to the second field visit and work in partnership in program de- sign as the lead into a larger funded program; and • Italy—fund modeling, water budgeting, and environmental assessments through the Iraq Foundation for a long-term program design. • Japan—has expressed interest in providing equipment and funding rural in- frastructure in the marshes On the multilateral side, we have engaged the Secretariat of the Ramsar Conven- tion on Wetlands, which draws upon a roster of internationally recognized experts in wetlands and marshlands for technical support. United Nations and other inter- national agencies that have shown an interest in becoming involved in as yet to be determined roles include: the World Health Organization, the United Nations Envi- ronmental Programme (UNEP), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has also expressed an interest in par- ticipating, particularly in working on water flow issues with other countries in the region. Accomplishments of USAID Program Implementation of USAID's marshland restoration and management program was initiated with the fielding of a small technical team to conduct a rapid assessment of the current situation in the marshlands from June 15–28, 2003. This visit to the marshlands in southern Iraq was the first on-the-ground scientific assessment in two decades. Their goals were to begin data collection to develop an action plan for the program. Despite the security and communications concerns, the team's work exceeded ex- pectations. There was virtually no scientific database covering the past 30 years in the marshes. The few studies during the previous regime were politically motivated to give credence to the repressive actions. No social or economic information appear to exist for half a century. During the scoping trip, the team: • Extensively visited the existing, reflooded, and drained marshes on the ground and in helicopter flyovers. This scoping team was the first scientific/develop- ment effort in the Iraq marshlands for at least two decades and the first to begin the systematic canvassing of the region. Previously, all information about the draining of the marshes and its impact was gleaned through remote sensing photography, never on the ground and analyzed from a distance. The team found several areas of healthy regrowth of reeds and other freshwater vegetation and wildlife, and others with serious salinity and only salt plants. Early concerns about endangered seed banks because of highly saline water and sºils may be less serious than anticipated, but further investigation is re- quired. 21 the higher education sector in Iraq, which has been the focus of re- cent funding activities by USAID, needs to be driven by a common theme that will act as a catalyst and thread together different parts of the university and its interaction with society. I am convinced, based on my experience in Miami with the Ever- glades and from other cases around the world, that the restoration of the Iraqi marshlands is that common theme that can spark the building of capacity necessary to help reconstruct the higher edu- cation sector in southern Iraq. The marshlands will give these universities a mission, a purpose to focus their rebuilding. Rebuilding the higher education sector in Iraq is a key component of Iraq reconstruction in my view, because research and education are the link between Iraq and the rest of the world. It is the key to the advancement of democracy in the country and its long-term sustainability. So what can we do? Several agencies and institutions present at this hearing, such as USAID and the Iraq Foundation, have specific proposals and projects ongoing to address the restoration of the Southern Iraqi marshlands. In the case of the University of Miami, in my full tes- timony you will find a specific proposal, Iraq-AWARE, advancing ºned research and education in the southern Iraqi marsh- ands. The building plan is to be undertaken by United States partici- pating higher education institutions in close collaboration with our Iraqi counterparts. The primary objective of Iraq-AWARE is to de- velop a program which will address the scientific, technological and policymaking aspects of the Ahwar wetland restoration. This pro- gram will build a pool of environmental, ecological, and social sciences. This will be capable of addressing the competing problems of water supply, energy generation, socioeconomic development and degradation within the Tigris and Euphrates watershed. We have already started the implementation of this program with some lim- ited funding at the University of Miami. It is really a joint effort between the Center for Ecosystems Science and Policy at UM, the Center for Wetlands at the Univer- sity of Florida, and the following institutions in southern Iraq: The University of Basra, the Basra Institute of Technology, and the Basra Museum of Natural History. We propose to continue working jointly with Iraq-AWARE in country to build the policymaking capacity that will enable the de- velopment of a comprehensive restoration plan for the Ahwar marshlands. This will be sustained through an in-country knowl- edge base at the higher education level with a higher education plan. It is anticipated this plan will be similar to other experiences of our team, including the restoration of the Florida Everglades, which essentially is our team's backyard. The proposed research and infrastructure building plan will in- clude a suite of viable approaches, developed at a programmatic level, to develop procedures for further implementation of specific restoration projects. I want to point out that the costs of inaction on our part are in- calculable. In this case, as in other complex situations, there is a 23 as well as an environmentally-concerned citizen. I decided I would present these three components of my vision of the southern Iraqi marshalands, since it is very difficult to dissociate one from the other, and they are all intertwined in my articu- lation of what the problems are and how they can be fixed, all in under 5 minutes. The Mesopotamian Marshlands (Ahwar in Arabic), associated with the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, once inundated 20,000 square kilometers in southern Iraq and Iran. These complex ecosystems consisted of marshes and lakes that provided habi- tat for diverse populations of fish and wildfowl as well as the homeland of the an- cient wetlands-dependent people known as the “Ma'dan “, or “Marsh Arabs”. Some consider this vast marsh the site of the biblical “Eden”. Water management during the later years of the Baathist regime was based on water diversion actions directed towards punishing the resistance movement that sought refuge in the Ahwar in the early 1990s. As a result of such actions, the marshes have dried up to less than 5% of their former extent, causing extensive salination of the soils and an extensive un- saturated zone in this arid climate. Endangered species of birds are threatened by the marshland loss along major flyways. Salt water has also intruded into water- ways, adversely affecting local freshwater commercial fisheries. The Ma'dan culture has essentially been destroyed, in violation of its members' human rights. Ecological and water resources management changes in the Tigris-Euphrates wa- tershed have had, and will continue to have, profound political, economic, environ- mental and cultural/ethnical consequences in the countries composing the water- shed: Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq. The Euphrates originates in Turkey, passes through Syria and ends in Iraq, and has been a matter of contention for all three nations. The º flows through Turkey and Iraq; its development on the Turkish side of the border, though not as extensive as on the Euphrates, has caused strife between Turkey and Iraq. Iraq and Iran share the extensive marshes, collectively called “Al Ahwar” in Arabic and literally translates to “The Marshes” in English, at the southern reaches of the Tigris-Euphrates watershed. The Ahwar contain im- portant ecological, social, and mineral resources. Beneath the marshes lies one of the largest contiguous oil reserves in the world. This reserve is mostly undeveloped by the Iraqis, but the Iranians have a relatively large number of oil fields on their side of the marshes. Iran and Iraq also share the Shatt al-Arab estuary formed by the joining of the Tigris and Euphrates, and the Karun river that flows from the Zagros mountains in Iran into the Shatt al-Arab north of Abadan. Control of this important waterway for maritime traffic was one of the factors that led to the Iran- Iraq conflict of the 1980s. During the Baathist regime of Saddam Hussein, water policy was dominated by three objectives: (i) expand short-term agricultural production by º wetlands and making more water available for irrigation; (ii) destroy the marshlands, and with them the ability of the Marsh Arabs (who had been a major source of political opposition to Saddam Hussein) to maintain a degree of independence from the re- gime; and (iii) close down the Shatt al-Arab waterway to maritime traffic by divert- ing the flow through canals to Khor al-Zubayr, thus lowering water depth and width of the estuary. The first of these objectives was undertaken despite major environmental con- sequences inherent in the loss of so much prime wetlands, and despite the likely long-term adverse economic consequences. The second was a massive human rights violation. The third was undertaken toward the end of the Iran-Iraq war to deprive Iran of the Shatt al-Arab, disrupting the estuarine ecosystem, and causing cata- strophic damage to the fragile marine lagoon system of Khor al-Zubayr. It is essen- tial that these actions be reversed in the economic and environmental interests of the . people, and to allow the Marsh Arabs to resume their way of life if they so choose. Increasing pressures for water supply and the rise of the petroleum industry have added to the agricultural demand, resulting in a situation where the demand for water exceeds the hydrologic capacity of the watershed. This pressure has resulted in a rapid degradation of the Tigris-Euphrates watershed ecosystem. The primary cause of this massive loss of wetland habitat is the alteration of natural processes essential to sustaining them. Such processes have been altered by anthropogenic ac- tivities, such as the construction of levees, the pollution of tributary streams, and construction of drainage canals for oil and gas exploration and production. The con- tinued loss of these marshes threatens to collapse the entire Ahwar ecosystem and impede its many functions. These functions include the provision of habitat to sup- port commercial fishing and the protection of a large urban population and critical infrastructure (e.g., energy, transportation, industrial) from damaging floods and storm surges. The marshlands act as wintering grounds for migratory birds along the West Siberian-Caspian-Nile flyway. They are also nursery grounds for shrimp migrating up from the Arabian Gulf, which are of commercial importance to Gulf 24 states such as Iraq, Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The marshes also provide suste- nance and livelihood to the Marsh Arabs. The Iraqi marshlands have also had profound impacts on the education sector, a situation that has been exacerbated by the general economic and unstable political climate that has plagued the country for the past 25 years. Just one week ago, I had the privilege to discuss in person the situation of Iraqi universities with the President of the Universty of Basrah, Dr. Salman D. Salman. Years of inflicted state-control in Iraq have left the universities severely deteriorated, not only phys- ically with aging infrastructure, but also morally, with academic isolation taking its toll on the capacity of the country to provide solutions to its problems in all areas of knowledge. The university is in great need of reconstruction and refurbishing of facilities on its various campuses, as well as equipment and materials necessary for education and research. The reconstruction of the higher education sector iº. which has been the focus of recent funding activities by USAID, needs to be driven by a common theme that will act as a catalyst and thread together different parts of the university, and its interaction with society. I am convinced, based on our ex- perience in Miami with the Everglades, and from other cases around the world, that the restoration of the Iraqi marshlands is the common theme that can spark the building of capacity necessary to help reconstruct the higher education sector in Iraq. The marshlands will give these universities a mission, a purpose to focus their rebuilding. Rebuilding the institutions of higher education in Iraq is a key compo- nent of Iraq reconstruction, as research and education are the Hºbº Iraq and the rest of the world, a key to the advancement of democracy and its long term sus- tainability in the country. What can we do? Several agencies and institutions present in this hearing (USAID, the Iraq Foun- dation) have specific proposals to address the restoration of the southern Iraqi marshlands. In the case of the University of Miami, in my full testimony you will find a specific proposal: Iraq-AWARE, Advancing Watershed Assessment, Research and Education in the southern Iraqi marshlands. Iraq-AWARE is a comprehensive research and education infrastructure and capacity building plan to be undertaken by US participating higher education institutions, in close collaboration with our Iraqi counterparts. The primary objective of Iraq-AWARE is to develop a long-term program that will address, for the #. time in Iraq, the scientific, technological and [..."; aspects of the Ahwar wetland restoration. This program will uild an indigenous base of expertise in wetland ecology, hydrology, environmental engineering and social sciences. This built in-country expertise .#. capable of ad- dressing the competing problems of water supply, energy generation, socioeconomic development and ecosystem degradation within the Tigris-Euphrates watershed. We have already started the implementation of this program with some limited in-house funding at the University of Miami. We propose to continue working jointly with our Iraq-AWARE in-country team members to build the human, scientific, technological and policy making capacity that will enable the development of a comprehensive restoration plan for the Ahwar marshlands. This capacity building will be developed and sustained through an in- country knowledge base seeded at the higher education level through a carefully de- signed research and education plan. It is anticipated that this plan will be similar to other experiences of our team, including the restoration of the Florida Everglades (our team’s “backyard”), the largest ecosystem restoration program ever funded. The proposed research and education capacity and infrastructure building plan will in- clude a suite of viable alternative restoration approaches, developed at a pro- grammatic level, as well as recommended processes and procedures for further eval- uation and implementation of specific restoration projects. Iraq-AWARE is a joint effort among the Center for Ecosystems Science and Policy at the University of Miami, the Center for Wetlands at the University of Florida, and the following institutions in southern Iraq: the University of Basrah, the Basrah Institute of Technology and the Museum of Natural History. I want to point out that the costs of inaction by our part are incalculable. Limited funding, just four million dollars, have been provided to date through USAID for marshland restoration work and ancillary activities. In the context of what is need- ed, this amount, although seemingly generous in the eyes of some, can only get us so far. More funding is required to continue the efforts already ongoing, such as those by USAID, the Iraqi Foundation and the University of Miami. Absent of this funding, the Ahwar ecosystem as we know it today will continue to deteriorate and eventually disappear. Without our contribution, the Ahwar marshlands are likely to experience future water shortages. The Shatt-al-Arab estuary will experience in- creased algae blooms, vegetation die-offs and hypersalinity, reducing its fisheries 25 and critical nursery functions. The ability to recover endangered species will be seri- ously impaired and as the natural environment suffers, so too will the human envi- ronment. The population of southern Iraq will experience water shortage problems as the water supply system, under pressure of continued population growth, be- comes impossible to administer adequately. The continued deterioration of the marshlands will lead to social unrest and political instability in the region; the de- mocracy we strive to forge in the country will be threatened. This project is not just about the environment, it is about the people in Iraq and the democratic stability in the region. Conclusion In the southern Iraqi marshlands we have an historic opportunity to correct past mistakes and save an international treasure for future generations while at the same time nurturing Iraq's democratic viability. The reconstruction effort in Iraq enjoys an unprecedented level of bipartisan support, reflecting a partnership of which we are very proud, among the State of Florida, the Federal government and concerned citizens. We appreciate your leadership and commitment, Madam Chair, and that of the subcommittee and other members in the United States House of Representatives in bringing us this far today. If we are to truly succeed, that commitment must con- tinue, and we look forward to working with the Subcommittee as the restoration of the Ahwar marshlands and the Iraqi universities proceed. Madam Chair, that concludes my statement. Thank you for the opportunity to ad- dress the subcommittee on this important effort and I will be pleased to answer any questions you may have. 26 Technical Proposal Executive Summary The Mesopotamian (southern Iraqi) Marshlands, associated with the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, once inundated 20,000 square kilometers in southern Iraq and Iran. These complex ecosystems consisted of marshes and lakes that provided habitat for diverse populations of fish and wildfowl as well as the homeland of the ancient wetlands-dependent people known as the "Ma'dan," or "Marsh Arabs." Some consider this vast marsh the site of the biblical "Eden." At the end of the Gulf War in 1991, the Baathist regime stopped water from draining into the marshlands by building dikes and canals. The marshes have dried up to less than 5% of their former extent, causing extensive salination of the soils and an extensive unsaturated zone in this arid climate. Endangered species of birds are threatened by the marshland loss along major flyways. Salt water has also intruded into waterways, adversely affecting local freshwater commercial fisheries. The Ma'dan culture has essentially been destroyed. Iraq-AWARE (Advancing Watershed Assessment, Research and Education), our proposed Cooperative Agreement, is an integrated research and education program which focuses on the ecohydrological restoration of the Iraqi marshlands, coupled with the development of an institutional and policy framework that makes this restoration effort sustainable in the long run. The primary objective of the proposed program is to strengthen Iraqi scientific, technological and policy/decision-making expertise to address the competing problems of water supply, energy generation, socioeconomic development and ecosystem degradation in the Tigris-Euphrates watershed. In achieving this long term objective, this program will provide a vehicle to strengthen existing higher educational programs in Iraq through interdisciplinary collaborations involving faculty and students in engineering, natural and social sciences. The outcome of Iraq-AWARE will be a blueprint for a Comprehensive Restoration Plan for the Mesopotamian Marshlands, developed and sustained through an in-country knowledge base seeded at the higher education level through a carefully designed research and education plan. It is anticipated that this plan will be similar to other experiences of our team, including the restoration of the Florida Everglades (our team's “backyard”), the largest ecosystem restoration program ever funded worldwide. Such a plan will include a suite of viable alternative restoration plans, presented at a programmatic level, and recommended processes and procedures for further evaluation and implementation of specific restoration projects. These recommendations will include science-based decision support systems for adaptive management during implementation of the plan. Iraq-AWARE is a joint effort between the Centerfor Ecosystems Science and Policy at the University of Miami, the Center for Wetlands at the University of Florida, and the following institutions in southern Iraq: the University of Basrah, the Basrah Institute of Technology and the Museum of Natural History. 31 Technical Proposal The first of these was undertaken despite major environmental consequences inherent in the loss of so much prime wetlands, and despite the likely long-term adverse economic consequences. The second was a massive human rights violation. The third was undertaken toward the end of the Iran-Iraq war to deprive Iran of the Shatt al-Arab, disrupting the estuarine ecosystem of Shatt al-Arab, and causing catastrophic damage to the fragile marine lagoon system of Khor al-Zubayr. It is essential that these actions be reversed in the economic and environmental interests of the Iraqi people, and to allow the Marsh Arabs to resume their way of life. Increasing pressures for water supply and the rise of the petroleum industry have added to the agricultural demand and resulted in a situation where the demand for water exceeds the hydrologic capacity of the watershed (see Table 2). This is combined with a rapid degradation of the Tigris-Euphrates watershed ecosystem. Figure 2 below shows recent loss of marshlands in the central area of the watershed in a short period of two years. The primary cause of this massive loss of riverine habitat is the alteration of natural processes that are essential to sustaining them. Such processes have been altered by anthropogenic activities, such as the construction of levees, the pollution of tributary streams, and canals for oil and gas exploration and production. The continued loss of these marshes threatens to collapse the entire ecosystem and impede the many functions they provide. These functions include the provision of habitat to support commercial fishing and the protection of a large urban population and critical infrastructure (e.g., energy, transportation, industrial) from damaging floods and storm surges. The marshlands act as wintering grounds for migratory birds from northern Europe, Siberia, and the North Asian steppes. They are also nursery grounds for shrimp migrating up from the Arabian Gulf, which are of commercial importance to Gulf states such as Iraq, Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The marshes also provide sustenance and livelihood to the marsh people, who are the indigenous people of the region. Table 2: Water Capacity of the Tigris (left) and Euphrates Rivers and Consumption Targets of its Riparians (in billion cubic meters per year) Countries Water Consumption Water Consumption Capacity Targets Capacity Targets Turkey 25.24 6.87 31.58 18.42 (51.80%) (13.00%) # (88.70%) (35.00%) Syria 0.00 2.60 4.00 11.30 (0.00%) (4.00%) 11.30%) (22.00%) Iraq 23.43 45.00 0.00 23.00 (48.20%) (83.00%) (0.00%) (43.00%) Total 48.67 54.47 35.58 52.92 (100%) (%.100,00) (100%) (100%) 36 Technical Proposal 3.2 Example Research Areas The proposed research will focus around the following series of representative topics on the relationship between science and policy in the context of ecosystem vegetation- hydrologic response and feedback dynamics in space and time. (1) Ecohydrology of the southern Iraqi Marshlands: Integrated ecohydrological models (marshland vegetation, surface water and groundwater) will be used to analyze the hydrologic forcing-response dynamics of the Marshlands at the ecosystem scale. This research entails the development, parameterization, calibration and application of these models to address specific issues related to the hydrologic restoration of this ecosystem: (i) Mitigation of impacts of dams on downstream ecosystems, and re-evaluate the role of existing and planned engineering hydraulic works; (ii) Re-establishment of the flood regime and determining the extent to which existing damage can be reversed, which is likely to vary spatially, e.g., the Central and Hammar marshes are severely deteriorated, while the al-Hawayza marsh (east, close to the Iranian border) is in better condition currently; (iii) Expected impacts of marshland re-flooding on the distribution of water supply in the region, e.g., impacts on existing irrigation, flood protection, water quality and population distribution; (iv) Designation of protected areas, and their optimal size and location, in an effort to balance species preservation and socioeconomic development, i.e., the intent is not to transform the Marshlands into an ecological sanctuary, but rather to develop it in a way that it becomes a place where “people live and breathe". (2) Remote Sensing of Watershed and Marshland Ecosystem Dynamics: Spatial and temporal patterns in the marsh coverage of the watershed developed and continues to change in response to various forcing mechanisms (e.g., climate or hydrology) and feedbacks. Remote sensing data can help address questions of how these patterns evolved and how they might respond to future changes. This technology offers benefits in terms of its ability to obtain environmental data with unparalleled levels of accuracy vs. spatiotemporal resolution. It also facilitates the early start-up of the project, since the data can be collected without personnel located in-situ, therefore minimizing safety and security concerns. Archived remote sensing imagery also provides data on past conditions. In this regard, this research project will utilize the newly-established Center for Southeastern Tropical Advanced Remote Sensing (CSTARS) at the University of Miami. This station enables reduced-cost (and in some cases free) access to earth remote sensing images such as SPOT and radar data. We will exploit this capability to increase the amount of coverage available for this project. Here, we propose to map and quantify past changes in habitat characteristics and Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) in both marshlands and coastal regions using time-series remote sensing data (e.g., Munro and Touron, 1997). These maps, coupled with local data and experiences, will provide insights into linkages between the systems, addressing fundamental questions: (i) What is the status of these systems? (ii) What was the status of these systems? (iii) What will be the response of these systems as restoration begins and continues? 42 Technical Proposal wetland ecosystems, Dr. Idrisi has in-country experience working with military units and international relief organizations, specifically in southern Iraq during wartime. We have attached two reference letters (in the supplementary section of this proposal) from US Army and United Nations officials that document this experience. The PI, Dr. Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm is a hydrologist and water resources engineer with experience in management of multi-disciplinary, multi-institution teams during his 10+ year career in the environmental engineering consulting industry (see PIbiographical sketch for details). Dr. Miralles is currently the Principal Investigator on a $1.8 million National Science Foundation Biocomplexity grant focused on quantifying hydrologic- vegetative interactions using a combination of modeling, remote sensing and field techniques. Dr. Miralles is also experienced in establishing and managing joint US- international academic programs overseas. The University of Miami-University of Florida consortium has performed work for the Comprehensive E. storation Program (CERP), the largest ecosystem restoration program ever funded. In addition to this, one of our US partners, the UF Center for Wetlands, is headed by Dr. Thomas L. Crisman, an internationally renown expert in ecosystem restoration. Dr. Crisman has been involved in programs similar to Iraq-AWARE in over 20 countries around the world. Hewill be directly involved with one of the specific research and educational areas as indicated in the program organizational chart below. Program assessment will have a high priority. We will conduct assessments at various levels, including research productivity performance measures, course evaluations by students, self-assessment conducted during annual retreats, and follow-up of dissemination activities identified in Section 3.4. Part of the program assessment will be based on an overseeing Advisory Board composed of representatives from USAID, each participating academic unit in the consortium (Center for Ecosystems Science and Policy at UM: Center for Wetlands at UF) and from each participating non-US organization (University of Basrah, Basrah Institute of Technology, and the Basrah Museum of Natural History). The University of Basrah will be the point institution providing staff and in-kind local support for research and educational activities in the Marshlands ecosystem, including access and field work supervision. We have attached a letter of intended support from the University’s President, Prof Salman D. Salman (attached in supplementary section), who is himself an aquatic ecologist, has worked extensively in the Marshlands, and understands our objectives and goals. Other key project staff are included in the following organizational chart for the Iraq- AWARE program. One-page CVs for key staff are included in the supplementary section of this proposal. 17 44 Technical Proposal Section 5 Program Deliverables and Schedule 5.1 Program Deliverables As per the research and education activities described in Section 3, the following are the proposed deliverables for this project. The Iraq-AWARE Team will provide five (5) draft and ten (10) final copies (including all electronic files) of these deliverables to USAID. Iraq-AWARE Volume No. 1: Cooperative Agreement Iraq-AWARE Volume No. 2: Detailed Work Plan Iraq-AWARE Volume No. 3: Research and Education Plans Iraq-AWARE Volume No. 4: Performance Monitoring Methodology Report - Iraq-AWARE Volume No. 5: Research and Education Implementation Progress Reports - Iraq-AWARE Volume No. 6: Performance Monitoring and Financial Progress Reports (submitted monthly and quarterly) - Iraq-AWARE Volume No. 7: Final Report 5.2 Project Schedule and Milestones The following chart presents a tentative schedule for the project, including the milestones for producing the project deliverables for submission to USAID, schedule of Project Tasks and Deliverables . Months ſº [ſº] IºHis TººnTasºſºlº PROJEct Tasks iProgram Managemen earch and Education implementation Progress Reports º - FF - - - - 19 49 and effective. Once the plan in place, Iraq can become eligible for more significant international funds for its implementation. I would like to conclude by thanking the United States and the Coalition for the most important contribution of all: giving Iraqis freedom from tyranny and the lib- erty to make their own decisions. Despite what you hear in the press, have no doubt in your mind that the vast majority of Iraqis join me in expressing this deep grati- tude. Thank you. Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Doctor, if you could elaborate on the political reasons that Saddam Hussein had for draining the marshlands. Mr. ALWASH. Madam Chairwoman, the marshlands, I like to refer to them as Iraq's Sherwood Forest. They have been a place where people who did not want to be under the control of the cen- tral government went to hide because you cannot find them. They are big wetlands, if you see them. After the Gulf War, when Iraqi rebels went and controlled the south, following the crushing of that rebellion, a lot of the rebels went into the marshlands to hide, Iraq south being virtually ungov- ernable between '92 and ’95. So what he tried to do was to deprive the rebels of a place to hide, where they could easily live off the land and to come out at night to challenge his authority over the towns. It is obvious as to why he did that, but the declared reason by Iraq is that the drying was to reclaim agricultural land, as if Iraq was devoid of agricultural land. You can drive and take pictures of Iraq. Iraq is full of areas that can be cultivated rather easily. One did not need to spend billions fºllons of dollars to dry the marshlands to reclaim agricultural anol. Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Now, there were about 300,000 marsh— Mr. ALWASH. Estimated between 300 to 500,000 people that have been displaced. Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. And some have been displaced, some to neighboring countries or internally displaced. How much unity is there in this group? We are talking about such a large number of people. Would they come back, first of all, if the marshes were restored? Would they hope to become fisher- men of that area, again? What is their attitude, also, of this restoration effort? You say that they want to make sure that they are the ones who decide their future, but is there unity in this, such a large number of peo- ple, about how it should be restored? Mr. ALWASH. Unity is difficult to achieve, but in the sample that I have from Nasiriyah area, the people that I met, 1-in-10 basi- cally—they would like to maintain their marshlands—sorry, they would like to maintain their farmlands. The vast majority of the people who I interviewed want their marshes back. Obviously, other areas differ. It depends on how you put the question to them, too: Would you like to go back to your way of life? Well, their way of life was, you know, idyllic. It is beautiful, it is nice, we see in pictures, but it is rather harsh. So do they want to go back to their old way of living? They have seen the Internet. They want electricity. They want also what we term modern needs. They do need that. But if you put the question to them in the proper form: Do you want your marshes returned while providing health services, education, pota-