Restoring the Mesopotamian Marshes

Founded in 2003 by returning engineer Azzam Alwash, Nature Iraq is Iraq's first and only environmental NGO, working out of offices in Baghdad, Sulaimani and Chibayish to survey, restore and defend the Mesopotamian Marshes. Managing director Jassim al-Asadi and the Chibayish team helped push the marshes to Ramsar wetland status in 2007 and UNESCO World Heritage status in 2016, and continue to monitor water flows, biodiversity and the fragile return of buffalo herders and fishing families as reservoirs refill. The organization remains an accredited UNEP partner, Iraq's only BirdLife International affiliate, and the sole Middle Eastern member of the Waterkeeper Alliance. As of July 2026 al-Asadi was still publicly warning that recent gains in marsh water levels are fragile and could reverse within a single dry season.