According to KhabarOnline, Seyyed Adel Mola stated in an interview with ISNA that currently, approximately 60 to 65 percent of the area of the Hoor al-Azim wetland has been filled with water. He emphasized that while this rainfall and water level have somewhat improved the situation compared to last year and acted as a temporary relief, this volume of water is insufficient to navigate through the hot season and prevent widespread wildfires.
He pointed out the extremely high evaporation rates in the Hoor al-Azim region, warning that if the supply of this water does not continue and drought occurs, numerous problems will plague the wetland. Currently, due to favorable weather conditions, the wetland’s wildlife is in the breeding and nesting season, and a lack of water in the coming months will deliver the first blow to this vital cycle.
The Deputy of Natural Environment at the Khuzestan Department of Environment Protection highlighted the dangers posed by water scarcity, stating that the first consequence would be the loss of vegetation cover, followed by widespread wildfires and habitat destruction. Mola noted that wildfires occur intermittently in Hoor al-Azim, clarifying that while no smoke is currently observed in the area, it is not unlikely that with rising temperatures and insufficient water rights, we may again face significant challenges, including wildfires and air pollution.
He further emphasized the transboundary dimensions of the issue of wildfires in Hoor al-Azim, stressing the necessity for planning and managing the allocation of water shares for the wetland, both in the Iranian and Iraqi sectors. He added, “We are issuing warnings regarding the water situation from now.” Iraq, like Iran, is facing water scarcity challenges, and the livelihoods of many people living on the wetland’s periphery depend on this ecosystem, which has also encountered numerous difficulties.
The Deputy of Natural Environment at the Khuzestan Department of Environment Protection reported on ongoing efforts to secure the water needs of the wetland in the upcoming seasons, stating that plans have been made for both domestic management and negotiations with the Iraqi side, although the final results of these discussions have not yet been announced. He concluded, “We hope that with increased rainfall and proper nourishment of the wetland, we can manage to prevent challenges stronger than those faced in previous years during the upcoming summer.”
