Pollution and Degradation: Wetlands in Ahwaz Under Systematic Destruction by Iranian Occupation

The wetlands in the Arab state of Ahwaz are among the most important environmental areas in the Arabian Gulf and the Middle East. They serve as habitats for a diverse array of plants and animals and play a significant role in maintaining the ecological balance in the region.

However, these wetlands have faced extensive destruction in recent years at the hands of the Iranian occupation, leading to significant biodiversity loss and threatening environmental security in the region.

On World Wetlands Day, observed annually on February 2, with this year’s theme being “Revive and Restore Degraded Wetlands”, the day highlights the importance of wetlands for sustaining life on Earth and combating climate change.

Causes of Wetland Destruction in Ahwaz

The Arab state of Ahwaz has identified the key causes of wetland destruction, attributing them to Iranian occupation policies:

Climate Change

Climate change is a primary factor affecting wetlands in Ahwaz, resulting in rising temperatures and decreased rainfall. This leads to reduced water levels in these critical ecosystems.

Dam Construction

Environmental reports warn that wetlands and rivers in occupied Ahwaz are at risk of drying up due to water shortages and increasing salinity caused by the construction of the Jamshir Dam on Ahwaz’s rivers to divert water to Persian areas.

Recent geological studies show that 60% of the lakebed of the Jamshir Dam is exposed to salinity. Salt outcrops have been discovered near Ahwaz’s rivers in the dam’s vicinity.

Environmental Deterioration in Izeh

The city of Izeh has seen environmental degradation due to Persian schemes to convert wetlands and forests into residential areas, where Persian settlers are brought into Ahwaz.

Izeh’s watershed is located along the Zagros Mountains in northeastern Ahwaz. The area receives an annual rainfall exceeding 200 mm. The Iranian occupation’s policies of dam construction and groundwater exploitation using high-powered pumps have, over the past three decades, led to the depletion of Ahwaz’s water resources—a mismanagement of water resources as noted by observers.

Ahwaz was once home to a third of the water resources in what is now geographically referred to as Iran, with five major rivers. Today, the region faces a catastrophe in terms of clean water and agricultural water shortages.

The wetlands, meadows, and farmlands nourished by the Karun and Karkheh Rivers, originating from the Zagros Mountains, have turned into dust bowls.

A major study on the marshlands in Iraq and Iran by the United Nations Environment Program concluded:
“The cumulative impacts of upstream dam construction and intensive drainage schemes within and around the marshlands have been devastating. Within less than a decade, one of the world’s largest and most significant wetland ecosystems has completely collapsed.”

Importance of Izeh Wetlands

The wetlands in Izeh are vital habitats for waterfowl and migratory birds in the region. Thousands of migratory birds flock to these wetlands annually to spend the winter.

Ali Mohammad Shaeri, Deputy Head of the Environmental Organization, stated that “500,000 hectares of Ahwaz wetlands have dried up, which is the main cause of sandstorms in the region.”

In Ahwaz, more than 700 villages lack access to drinking water. Deputy Governor of Ahwaz Fadel Obiyat admitted that less than 70% of the villages have safe drinking water.

The drying up of rivers and wetlands in Ahwaz has reshaped the region’s landscape more drastically than the Iraq-Iran War.

Water Pollution

Industrial projects are another major factor in the destruction of Ahwaz’s wetlands. Factories and industrial facilities built in these areas cause water and soil pollution.

Ahwaz’s wetlands are crucial habitats for numerous marine species and migratory birds. However, this ecosystem is under threat due to water pollution from unchecked industrial and agricultural waste disposal.

This pollution leads to biodiversity loss and threatens the migratory birds relying on these wetlands for feeding and breeding.

Prominent Wetlands in Ahwaz

Some of the notable wetlands in Ahwaz include:

• Falahiya Wetlands: Located between Khormousi and Falahiya, covering an area of 4,000 square kilometers. The freshwater source originates from the Jarahhi River, its tributaries, winter rains, and Arabian Gulf currents. Around 70,000 hectares of these wetlands are under protection as wildlife reserves.
• Bamdej Wetlands: Spanning approximately 40 square kilometers, these wetlands lie 40 kilometers north of Ahwaz between the Karkheh and Dez Rivers, fed by the Shahour River.
• The Great Marsh (Hor al-Huwaizah): This wetland, also called Hor al-Huwaizah, is situated in western Ahwaz along the Iran-Iraq border, between the Karkheh and Tigris Rivers. It is nourished by the Karkheh River and tributaries of the Tigris. Its waters overflow into the Tigris and Shatt al-Arab, covering an area ranging from 4,500 to 56,000 square kilometers.

The wetlands in Falahiya, located 100 kilometers south of Ahwaz, epitomize the transformation of Ahwaz from fertile farmlands and orchards into barren deserts and, suddenly, into swamps.

Falahiya is one of the first international wetlands registered under the Ramsar Convention in February 1971, covering an area of 300,000 hectares.

Consequences of Wetland Destruction

The destruction of wetlands in Ahwaz has resulted in several negative impacts, including:

• Loss of Biodiversity: Many plant and animal species have disappeared, reducing biodiversity in the region.
• Threat to Food Security: Wetlands are vital for food security, providing habitats for fish and other animals consumed by local populations. The destruction of these ecosystems jeopardizes local food security.
• Increased Risk of Natural Disasters: Wetlands act as natural barriers against disasters like floods and earthquakes. Their destruction makes local populations more vulnerable to these hazards.

Despite the limited studies conducted so far to investigate the environmental conditions of these wetlands, comprehensive research is urgently needed.

Additionally, Izeh’s forests and wetlands have experienced several fires, resulting in the loss of thousands of hectares.

Ahwaz continues to face numerous challenges from climate change and global warming, including increased dust storms and the destruction of wetlands.