Initial Trial Indicators selected for Iraq
In order to assess progress in Iraq of protecting the biodiversity of the country and to effectively communicate trends in biodiversity related to the objectives of the Convention, Iraq has selected a limited number of trial indicators. In many cases, at this time, Iraq lacks the data to use many of these indicators as tools for measuring improvements in biological diversity. They are included here to provide targets that the national government should work towards improving so that a more complete understanding of the trends in biodiversity within the country can be understood.
The core set of indicators derived from a list provided by the SCBD (2007) is provided here focusing on the most relevant issues for biodiversity in an Iraqi context. These are indicators for general application: forest biodiversity; agricultural and rangeland biodiversity; terrestrial biodiversity; freshwater biodiversity; marine and coastal waters biodiversity; etc.
Gap Analysis is greatly aided by indicators that are useful for monitoring important aspects of Iraq’s biodiversity. Key Indicators for Iraq’s biodiversity are organized around four questions or concepts: What is changing and to what extent? (state); why is it changing? (pressure); what are we doing about it? (response); and do we have the means to formulate and implement response measures? (capacity).
Since the response indicators deal with the strategies, plans and actions that a country is able to put in place to biodiversity conservation, these will be more properly addressed in Chapter II.
State Indicators
|
Pressure Indicators
|
Ecoregions of Iraq
|
Land Cover and Use Variables
|
Water Resources in the Tigris-Euphrates River Basins
|
Change in land use, conversion of forest & steppe lands to other land uses (e.g. deforestation rate)
|
Changes in habitat boundaries
|
Fish Catch Assessments
|
Biodiversity of Terrestrial Ecosystems
|
Alien & Invasive Species
|
List and total number of threatened species by group in terrestrial ecosystems
|
Hunting Pressure
|
Biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems
|
Unsustainable Fishing Practices
|
List and total number of threatened species by group in freshwater ecosystems
|
Desertification
|
Biodiversity of Marine Ecosystems
|
Road Building Impacts
|
List and total number of threatened species by group in marine ecosystems
|
Mining & Resource Extraction
|
Water Quality- Nutrients, Physical & Chemical Parameters, BOD, heavy metals, and other pollutants
|
Polluted & Hazardous Sites
|
Soil Quality
|
Land Mines
|
Ethnic & Language Groups
|
|
This initial gap assessment focuses only on core issues. Future assessments may need to address other more detailed indicators so a more comprehensive list of potential indicators is also provided in each area.
The gap analysis for each indicator is presented below and provides:
-
A brief description of the gap analysis.
-
The information and/or datasets needed to fully develop each indicator and develop a more complete picture of the biodiversity of the country.
-
A list of the sources and/or stakeholders who should be involved in filling the gaps in information.
This table is augmented by more detailed information on each indicator found in Appendix IV.
Indicator | Gap Analysis | Required information &/or datasets | Source/Stakeholder (frequency of update) | Indicators of STATUS of Biodiversity and Ecosystems | Ecoregions in Iraq |
The republic of Iraq is located in the Middle East, surrounded by Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Turkey. It is 432,162 km2 and is comprised of five major and four smaller terrestrial ecoregions. The ecological status of each of these areas is not well assessed and though many individual terrestrial and freshwater sites have been studied in Iraq since 2005 by the KBA Project and other initiatives, for logistical and support reasons, few efforts have been taken to ensure that all ecoregions are adequately represented in the survey effort; almost no efforts have been made to assess habitat in the territorial seas of Iraq.
|
Seasonal surveys to identify quality representative habitat for each ecoregion.
|
Ministry of Environment, Iraqi Universities and research organizations, NGOs, and related institutions in Kurdistan, Iraq. (Seasonally)
| Water Resources in the Tigris-Euphrates River Basins |
Information and future trends in water availability in the Tigris-Euphrates Basins are subject to change due to damming, irrigation and water diversion projects in upstream riparian states. It is important to characterize in-stream water resources and hydrological functions. In addition, information on changing management and operations of dams, gates and other water control structures within Iraq is not always available or, if available, is not evaluated by Iraqi agencies responsible for river basin ecosystems and biodiversity.
|
Center for information sharing and developing management agreements over water resource issues between different stakeholders, decision-makers, and users.
|
Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and related institutions in Kurdistan, Iraq.
| Change in habitat boundaries |
Long term tracking of habitats and habitat boundaries using remote sensing/GIS technology as demonstrated by the IMOS system.
|
Habitat classification system development; Remote sensing/GIS mapping with ground-truthing surveys
|
Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Iraqi Universities and research organizations, Local NGOs, Related institutions in Kurdistan, Iraq. (Seasonally)
| Biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems |
A systematic census and classification has not been done to determine status of species within major terrestrial habitats and ecoregions. Draft marshland habitat classification system developed under the NI Habitat Project should be completed and expanded to include terrestrial habitats.
|
Develop Iraq terrestrial species checklists; Mapping major habitats types for species conservation; Database of species of the different groups (birds, mammals; amphibians etc) based on habitat utilized; Habitat surveys; and develop an Iraqi Habitat Classification system for all terrestrial habitats found in Iraq based on international standards (e.g. EUNIS, others).
|
Ministry of Environment, International Agencies -IUCN, WRI, UNEP, etc., Local authorities KRG and Iranian Public Authorities, and Local NGOs. (Seasonal)
| List of threatened species by group in terrestrial ecosystems |
Determining conservation status of other species groups is still needed; The development of systematic checklists for flora and fauna groups is needed.
|
Checklists informed and verified by field survey work for flora and fauna groups; Updating status on species and habitats
|
Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Iraqi Universities & Research organizations, International Agencies -IUCN, WRI, UNEP, etc., and related institutions in Kurdistan, Iraq
| Biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems |
A systematic census and classification has not been done to determine status of species within major freshwater habitats and ecoregions. Draft marshland habitat classification system developed under the NI Habitat Project should be completed. Benthic Macroinvertebrates & Plankton data has been used in a limited fashion primarily as a water quality tool but this methodology should be improved and information on aquatic organisms should be evaluated for biodiversity values. Few if any studies on other aquatic organisms (amphibians) have been conducted.
|
Mapping major freshwater habitats types for species conservation; Database of species of the different groups (birds, mammals, amphibians etc) based on habitat utilized; Develop an Iraqi Habitat Classification system for all terrestrial, freshwater and marine and coastal habitats based on international standards (e.g. EUNIS, others); The collecting of adult (flying terrestrial) phase organisms should be initiated as a tool for identifying important species and for estimating water quality; Checklist of Iraqi amphibians with their habitat requirements and conservation status; Improved information on fish assemblages and conservation status for streams, rivers and lakes and caves ecosystems; and Locating important spawning habitats of Iraqi species.
|
Ministry of Environment, International Agencies -IUCN, WRI, UNEP, etc., Iraqi Universities, Twin Rivers Institute for Scientific Research-AUIS & other research institutions, related institutions in Kurdistan, Iraq, and Local NGOs
| List and total number of threatened species by group in freshwater ecosystems. |
A systematic census and classification has not been done to determine status of species within major freshwater habitats and ecoregions. Draft marshland habitat classification system developed under the NI Habitat Project should be completed.
|
Mapping major freshwater habitats types for species conservation; Database of species of the different groups (birds, mammals; amphibians etc) based on habitat utilized; Develop an Iraqi Habitat Classification system for all terrestrial, freshwater and marine and coastal habitats based on international standards (e.g. EUNIS, others), and Updating status on species and habitats.
|
Ministry of Environment, International Agencies -IUCN, WRI, UNEP, etc., Related institutions in Kurdistan, Iraq, Twin Rivers Institute for Scientific Research-AUIS & other research institutions, and Local NGOs.
| Biodiversity in marine ecosystems |
A systematic census and classification has not been done to determine status of species within major marine habitats. Draft habitat classification system developed under the NI Habitat Project should be completed and expanded to include these habitats.
|
Develop checklist and database of species of the different groups (birds, mammals; amphibians etc) based on habitat utilized; Fauna and habitat surveys; Develop an Iraqi Habitat Classification system for all marine and coastal habitats based on international standards (e.g. EUNIS, others).
|
Ministry of Environment, International Agencies -IUCN, WRI, UNEP, etc., and Local NGOs. (Seasonally)
| List and total number of threatened species by group in marine ecosystems. |
Regularly updated information about fisheries in all Iraqi commercial fishing locations handling marine fish. It is not currently possible to find such data covering wild marine fisheries. No or only informal fisherman associations exist. Changes in catch should be accessed through time. The extent to which other marine non-fish species (e.g. sea turtles, marine mammals, sharks and rays) are present in Iraq waters has been poorly studied.
|
Regular monitoring of key fisheries in rivers, lakes and marshlands (Frame & Landing Surveys) to characterize the fishing effort, fishing gear, species landed (by species type, weight, and time); Verify status of Iraqi species through surveys and update species checklist
|
Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Science Center, University of Basrah, (Seasonally or depending on information, surveys may be required several times during the fishing season)
| Water Quality- Nutrients, Physical & Chemical Parameters, BOD, heavy metals, and other pollutants |
Regular monitoring campaigns are needed on a basin level (integrated watershed, catchment and river basin protection and management). At the moment it is not possible to find data covering all basins. No water quality data is available for waters entering Iraq from neighbouring countries; No quality standards are available for Iraqi surface waters and ground water. Benthic Macroinvertebrates & Plankton data has been used in a limited fashion primarily as a water quality tool but methodology requires more study to modify to Iraqi context and should be applied consistently throughout the country and over time to be most effective
|
Updated water quality status of running and standing waters within Iraqi Watersheds; Monitoring network along the main tributaries and main stem of each watershed throughout the country; Continued research and development of WQIs & IBIs at research institutes; The exact tolerance value for benthic macroinvertebrates and plankton inhabiting Iraq should be found; an Iraqi Tolerance Index should be implemented instead of modifying the American and Australian indexes; and the collecting of adult (flying terrestrial) phase organisms should be initiated as a tool for estimating water quality and identifying important species.
|
Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health, Iraqi Universities, Twin Rivers Institute for Scientific Research-AUIS & other research institutions, and related institutions in Kurdistan, Iraq. (Minimum of 3-4 times a year)
| | |
At this stage, no information is available.
|
Soil quality in term of soil pollutant (e.g. nutrient N, P loads, heavy metal, pesticides, etc); Satellite images of different years (annually)
|
INMA Project (USAID), Ministry of Agriculture, Local public authorities, Iraqi University Colleges of Agriculture, Twin Rivers Institute for Scientific Research-AUIS & other research institutions, and related institutions in Kurdistan, Iraq.
| Ethnic & Language Groups |
Census Information is not complete. Ethno-biology/Ethno-medicine information is incomplete or lacking. There is also a lack of information on overall ethno-religious groups as this information may have other political implications.
|
Identifying the major ethno-religious groups and update maps of the ethno-diversity of the country and collect information on the use of biological diversity by these different groups (ethno-biology/ethno-medicine). Conduct survey efforts to document ethno-biology of Iraqi ethno-religious groups.
|
Iraqi Universities and other research organizations.
| Indicators of PRESSURE on Biodiversity and Ecosystems | Land Cover and Use Variables |
A comprehensive system for land cover and land use classification does not exist for all lands of Iraq. Land use in undeveloped areas, particularly those of high value to biological diversity, is not well understood.
|
Develop land-use/land cover maps of natural and wildlands of Iraq and develop a classification scheme for these regions.
|
Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Environment, NGOs, Ministry of Water Resources, Related ministries, directorates and research centers in Kurdistan, Iraq. (Seasonally)
| Change in land use, conversion of forest & steppe lands to other land uses (e.g. deforestation rate) |
Gaps exist in current data collection efforts related to wildland forest resource and steppe/rangeland uses. Coppicing is practiced and tree cutting prohibited in the Kurdistan Region of Northern Iraq but information is lacking on the extent of this practice and the effectiveness of anti-cutting rules. Information on remnant steppe ecosystems is lacking, as well as current impacts of grazing and other use activities in the steppe, steppe-forest, and forest zones.
|
Surveys to map existing stands of mature and important forests, remnant steppe ecosystems and evaluate species assemblages, status and threats of deforestation, overgrazing, and/or habitat conversion. Improved reporting on commercial forestry practices is needed.
|
Ministry of Agriculture- Forestry departments, Universities of Kurdistan, Iraq (Seasonally)
| Fish Catch Assessments |
Regularly updated information about fisheries in all Iraqi commercial fishing locations is not available. Some information is available for aquaculture but this should be developed further to identify interactions with wild fisheries. No or only informal fisherman associations exist. Changes in catch should be accessed through time. A system is needed that will be able to identify species requiring additional protection; determine sustainable catch limits; set and enforce fishing quotas on commercial fisheries. Information on fish stocking programs (fish species, frequency and locations) is lacking.
|
Regular monitoring of key fisheries in rivers, lakes and marshlands (Frame & Landing Surveys) to characterize the fishing effort, fishing gear, species landed (by species type, weight, and time).
|
Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Science Center, University of Basra, Related ministries, directorates and research centers in Kurdistan, Iraq (Depending on information, surveys may be required several times during the fishing season)
| Alien & Invasive Species |
Information is lacking on all alien and invasive species currently present in Iraq and their current effects on Iraqi ecosystems. Few if any management activities have been conducted in Iraq beyond physical removal of nuisance species (e.g. collection of Wild Hyacinth from choked water ways).
|
Checklist of nuisance, alien, invasive species currently of management concern in Iraq; Information on level of current trade in species across borders.
|
Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Trade, and related ministries, directorates and research centers in Kurdistan, Iraq. (From Seasonal Surveys)
| Hunting |
It is important to characterize the hunting pressures based on species with the goal of developing a system that will be able to: identify species requiring additional protection; determine sustainable hunting limits by species; develop educational materials and programs to educate hunters and hunting associations, and enact legislation and enforcement mechanisms to set and enforce hunting limits.
|
Information on degree of current hunting efforts and target species; information on species entering animal markets and zoos; information on species crossing national borders.
|
Animal markets, Zoos, Enforcement agencies and border officials, hunting associations, Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Environment, NGOs, and related institutions in Kurdistan, Iraq. (Seasonally; market information may need to be done more frequently)
| Unsustainable Fishing Practices |
Use of electroshock, and sometimes poison and/or explosives in fisheries is common throughout Iraqi stream and marshlands. Studies are needed to characterize and determine appropriate actions to stop these unsustainable practices.
|
Case studies at multiple sites to determine the reasons behind the use of these methods and most effective means for controlling such activities; Fisheries studies based on target species to determine proper timing of fishing moratoriums.
|
Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Science Center, University of Basrah, Related ministries, directorates and research centers in Kurdistan, Iraq. (At least Quarterly)
| Desertification |
Few studies have been carried out and most information on desertification in Iraq is anecdotal. Few studies have been conducted in this area. A national plan to guide activities to prevent desertification is needed.
|
Studies on extent and threat of desertification.
|
Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Sciences and Technology, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Related ministries, directorates and research centers in Kurdistan, Iraq, Iraqi Universities, NGOs and the private sector. (Seasonally)
| Road Building Impacts |
Few or no information or studies have been conducted on such impacts.
|
Studies on road building impacts, methods and mitigation techniques; Dataset of proposed road projects mapped in sensitive areas.
|
Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Environment, Iraqi Universities & NGOs, and related ministries, directorates and research centers in Kurdistan, Iraq (Yearly)
| | |
Few or no information or studies have been conducted on such impacts.
|
Studies on oil development, mining & road building impacts, methods and mitigation techniques; Dataset of proposed projects mapped in sensitive areas.
|
Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Industry & Minerals, Ministry of Oil, Ministry of Environment, Iraqi Universities & NGOs, and related institutions in Kurdistan, Iraq (Yearly)
| Polluted & Hazardous sites |
UNEP produced a report on Hot Spots in Iraq in 2005 that reviewed a short list of sites within several industrial sectors and prioritized five top hazardous waste sites. A list of all polluted and hazardous sites is needed, characterized by site size and extent, pollutant, mitigation and clean-up measures completed and/or planned.
|
National Database of Polluted & Hazardous Sites; Impact assessment to surrounding ecosystems; and Mitigation plans & activities
|
Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health, Related institutions in Kurdistan, Iraq. (Yearly)
| | |
Impacts on Iraqi native species is unknown; mine field clearance rates not available, such an indicator would need to display the extent of mine fields areas (expressed as a percentage of the total land); little is known about how different clearance methods effect biodiversity.
|
Updated information on delineated field boundaries; Information on recently cleared lands to identify new, priority survey sites.
|
International & National Mine Clearance organizations and NGOs, Related institutions in Kurdistan, Iraq. (Yearly)
| PRESSURE & STATUS TRENDS for the Management of Biodiversity
Several of the indicators that have been selected for Iraq have enough data or information to start providing quantifiable trends in biodiversity within Iraq. Some basic information on these is provided here and more detailed information is provided in Appendix IV.
Indicators of STATUS of Biodiversity and Ecosystems Indicator: Ecoregions in Iraq
The republic of Iraq is located in the Middle East, surrounded by Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Turkey. It is 432,162 km2 and is comprised of five major and four smaller terrestrial ecoregions.
Terrestrial Ecoregions
|
Total Area (km2)
|
Area in Iraq (km2)
|
% in Iraq
|
Tigris-Euphrates alluvial salt marsh (PA0906)
|
35,600
|
28,795
|
81%
|
Arabian Desert and East Sahero-Arabian Xeric Shrublands (PA1303)
|
1,851,300
|
192,853
|
10%
|
Mesopotamian Shrub Desert (PA1320)
|
211,000
|
129,995
|
62%
|
Middle East Steppe (PA0812)
|
132,300
|
37,598
|
28%
|
Eastern Mediterranean conifer-sclerophyllous-broadleaf forest (PA1207)
|
143,800
|
1,475
|
1%
|
Red Sea Nubo-Sindian Tropical Desert and Semi-Desert (PA1325)
|
651,300
|
5,189
|
1%
|
South Iran Nubo-Sindian Desert and Semi-Desert (PA1328)
|
351,500
|
7,993
|
2%
|
Gulf Desert and Semi-Desert (PA1323)
|
72,600
|
1,480
|
2%
|
Zagros Mountains Forest Steppe (PA0446)
|
397,800
|
29,376
|
7%
|
Total
|
3,847,200
|
434,753
|
|
Four freshwater ecoregions make up the country, roughly divided by the upper and lower Tigris Euphrates River Basin, the western desert (Arabian Interior), and a small portion of the Orumiyeh Ecoregion.
Freshwater Ecoregions
|
Total Area (km2)
|
Area in Iraq (km2)
|
% in Iraq
|
441 Lower Tigris and Euphrates River Basin
|
340,633
|
227,497
|
67%
|
442 Upper Tigris and Euphrates River Basin
|
507,236
|
64,745
|
13%
|
440 Arabian Interior
|
2,334,454
|
142,494
|
6%
|
445 Orumiyeh
|
51,772
|
17
|
0.03%
|
Iraq borders one marine ecoregion at the southern terminus of the Shatt al Arab and Khor Az Zubayr where they meet the head of the Gulf.
Marine Ecoregions
|
Total Area (km2)
|
Area in Iraq (km2)
|
% in Iraq
|
90 The Gulf
|
251,000
|
Territorial sea
4,910
|
2%
|
Indicator: Water Resources in the Tigris-Euphrates River Basins
The waters of the Tigris and Euphrates as well as the smaller river basins within the country have been heavily utilized for irrigation, in many cases for several thousands of years, resulting in extensive irrigation networks, canals, escapes, and other diversions. Some of the greatest changes to the water resources of the country have been the large scale dam and water diversion projects in Turkey, Syria, and northern Iraq.
These have led to a significant decline in Iraq’s water resources, which is demonstrated in the left figure below showing water to the Iraqi marshlands before and after 1990.
Given the severe drought conditions that occurred in 2008/2009, the flow volume of water of the Euphrates River downstream from Hindiyah for the period 01 Oct 1991 – 30 Sept 2009, was recalculated and water available after 1990, listed above as 10.61 BCM, is 2.1 BCM lower (8.54 BCM). For the Karkheh river, a dike between Al Azim (in Iran) and Hawizeh marshes (an adjoining Ramsar site in Iraq) completed on 31 July 2009, now allows no water flow from the Iranian side, which changed the hydrodynamic system of the Hawizeh marshes (see image to the right below). This needs to be well-monitored with a continuous monitoring system.
|
|
Available Water Before and after 1990
|
Hawizeh/Al Azim Embankment
|
Indicator: Change in habitat boundaries
There have been two significant changes to habitat boundaries in the latter half of the last century in Iraq. The first is the building of dams and reservoirs in the upper watersheds of the Tigris Euphrates River Basin (reviewed above). The second was the large-scale drainage program of the Mesopotamian Marshlands of southern Iraq in the 1990s. Both of these are documented by a UNEP report in 2001 called, “The Mesopotamian Marshlands: Demise of an Ecosystem” (UNEP/DEWA/GRID, 2001). As stated in this report, the Ataturk Dam in Turkey, which can store the more than the annual flow of the Euphrates River, has had a significant effect on the ecology of the entire system. Dam construction, both large and small, are still planned in the riparian countries of the upper basin, the most significant of which is the planned Ilisu Dam on the Tigris River in Turkey, which will have far reaching and adverse consequences for the downstream water resources, ecology, and overall habitats of Iraq. In addition, MoWR is promoting several large projects that will have significant effects on biodiversity. Some of these include:
-
Construction of Badoush Dam on the Tigris
-
Construction of Al Baghdadi Dam on the Euphrates
-
Construction of Bekhma and Mindawa Dam on the Greater Zab River
-
Construction of Taq-Taq Dam on the Lesser Zab
MoWR is currently preparing a Strategy for Water Resources and Land in Iraq that will have a large effect on biodiversity as it will practically re-design the use of land for agriculture in Iraq.
In addition to dam construction, drainage of the Mesopotamian marshlands has also led to the most significant, recent habitat changes for southern Iraq. This is shown in the two maps below from the year 1970, which is often used as a baseline period for comparison, and the year 2000.
|
|
Extension of Mesopotamia Marshlands in 1970
|
Extension of Mesopotamia Marshlands in 2000
|
The recovery of this system after the Gulf War of 2003 when waters were partially restored to this area was initially monitored by the UNEP Iraq Marshlands Observation System (IMOS) using remote sensing technology. As was stated in section I.1.3, this program was discontinued but the New Eden Group has continued the remote sensing program, providing information as needed to the Iraqi government and stakeholders.
|
"Restoration of the Mesopotamian marshes in Iraq" UNEP-GRID-Arendal Maps and Graphics Library. 2009.
|
The figure below documents a five year period showing the vegetation and water level trends that occurred in the reflooded marsh areas between 2003 and 2007. This is an important habitat that has been greatly reduced and will continue to see enormous change.
Recovery of the Mesopotamia Marshlands 2003-2007 (UNEP-GRID, 2007)
Indicator: Water Quality- Nutrients, Physical & Chemical Parameters, BOD, heavy metals, and other pollutants
Water quality in Iraq is impacted by largely uncontrolled municipal and industrial wastes, and is declining throughout the country. Limited monitoring activities have been undertaken by government, universities and NGOs in various efforts but few basin-wide, regular monitoring programs exist. A monitoring program was conducted by NI, in and around the areas of the Mesopotamian Marshlands, under the KBA project between 2005 and 2008. Many areas were found to be suffering from poor water quality, lack of flow-through, and high salinity. This work primarily focused on physical parameters (temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen) and a limited number of chemical parameters. This program was extended to Kurdistan, Northern Iraq in 2007, but discontinued in the south in 2008 for logistical reasons. In 2009, again for logistical reasons, the water quality survey was limited to Sulaimani but was more intensively focused on sites within the upper Little Zab and Diyala Basins and for the first time included bacteria and heavy metal tests to soils, sediments, and water.
In 2008/2009, some attempts were made by NI/TRI to implement a Water Quality Index (WQI) and Indices for Biotic Integrity (IBIs), to examine overall water quality and health of ecosystems, which are straightforward and simple methods that are useful for pin-pointing high priority areas for intervention.
The water quality index provides a single number that expresses overall water quality at a certain location and time based on several water quality parameters. The objective of the index is to turn complex water quality data into information that is understandable and useable by the public. It should be noted that the use of an index to "grade" water quality is a controversial issue among many water quality scientists (http://bouldercommunity.net/basin/watershed/wqi_info.html) because a single number cannot tell the whole story of water quality.
The NI KBA surveys and other project surveys have looked at phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish as biotic indicators of water quality. Indices of Biological Integrity (IBIs) can be important assessment tool for evaluating water quality.
Additional water quality tools used in the KBA surveys in Iraqi Kurdistan were the Pollution Tolerance Index (PTI) (Mitchell and Stapp, 2000) and Pollution Index (PI) (Waterwatch South Australia, 2004). These indices were modified based on the species observed in Kurdistan-Iraq waters.
Included below is an example of benthic macroinvertebrate biotic indicators results in the upper Diyala (Darbandikhan Lake) Basin for the summer of 2009.
Neither WQIs nor IBIs have been applied broadly in Iraq and more work is required to adapt available indices to Iraqi conditions and baseline levels. But, if used consistently and uniformly, they may prove to be an important tool for monitoring trends in water quality for Iraqi researchers as well as decision-makers.
Water quality ranks in Diyala River Watershed (Darbandikhan Basin) sites during Kurdistan KBA - summer surveys 2009, depending on benthic macroinvertebrates’ results.
Indicators of PRESSURE of Biodiversity and Ecosystems Indicator: Change in land use, conversion of forest & steppe lands to other land uses (e.g. deforestation rate)
Iraqi forest lands are located primarily in northern Iraq as shown in the image below.
Forested areas of Iraq (Source: FAO, 2010)
The following tables show changes in the Iraq Forest Cover from the periods between 1990-2000-2005 (Table 1), and the total Degradation/Conversion for the periods between 1990-2000-2005 for Forest Area+Wooded Area-Plantation in Iraq (Table 2).
Table 1: Change in Iraq Forest Cover (1990-2000-2005)
TOTAL FOREST COVER
|
Forest 1990 (ha)
|
804,000
|
|
Forest 2000 (ha)
|
818,000
|
|
Forest 2005 (ha)
|
822,000
|
|
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)
|
1,400
|
0.17%
|
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)
|
800
|
0.10%
|
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)
|
18,000
|
2.24%
|
PRIMARY FOREST COVER
|
Primary 1990 (ha)
|
NA
|
NA
|
Primary 2000 (ha)
|
NA
|
NA
|
Primary 2005 (ha)
|
NA
|
NA
|
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)
|
NA
|
NA
|
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)
|
NA
|
NA
|
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)
|
NA
|
NA
|
OTHER WOODED LAND
|
Other Wooded Land 1990 (ha)
|
1,245,000
|
|
Other Wooded Land 2000 (ha)
|
1,033,000
|
|
Other Wooded Land 2005 (ha)
|
927,000
|
|
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)
|
(21,200)
|
-1.70%
|
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)
|
(21,200)
|
-2.05%
|
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)
|
(318,000)
|
-25.54%
|
PLANTATIONS
|
Plantations 1990 (ha)
|
15,000
|
|
Plantations 2000 (ha)
|
15,000
|
|
Plantations 2005 (ha)
|
13,000
|
|
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)
|
-
|
0.00%
|
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)
|
(400)
|
-2.67%
|
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)
|
(2,000)
|
-13.33%
|
Table 2: Total Degradation/Conversion (1990-2000-2005) for Forest Area+ Wooded Area-Plantation in Iraq
Other 1990 (ha)
|
2,034,000
|
|
Other 2000 (ha)
|
1,836,000
|
|
Other 2005 (ha)
|
1,736,000
|
|
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)
|
(19,800)
|
-0.97%
|
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)
|
(20,000)
|
-1.09%
|
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)
|
(298,000)
|
-14.65%
|
The figure below indicates the trends in fuelwood, industrial roundwood, and paper/paperboard production in Iraq between 1961 and 2001. Both fuelwood and paper/paperboard production saw spikes (in the late 1990s and the early 1990s respectively) and industrial roundwood saw a large increase in the early 70s and remained steady until a slight production increases appeared again in the mid-to-late 1990s.
Forest Products Production, Iraq, 1961-2001 (Earth Trends, 2003)
Indicator: Fish Catch Assessments
Available freshwater and marine fisheries catch data is shown below but accuracy of these figures is not certain.
Iraqi Commercial Fish Catch (Earth Trends, 2003)
Freshwater fish catch
|
Iraq
|
Middle East & North Africa
|
1990 (metric tons)
|
18,875
|
252,334
|
2000 (metric tons)
|
9,700
|
416,938
|
Marine Fish catch
|
|
|
2000 (metric tons)
|
11,066
|
2,461,334
|
|
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