Water Scarcity Affects Migratory Birds in Iraq
by:David DeFranza
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| Iraq Marsh |
Migratory birds of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East use marshes and wetlands in Iraq as critical roosting areas. These areas are in great danger of drying out and are very vulnerable because the country is having trouble encouraging development and preserving security. The scarcity of water in Iraq was kicked into high gear when Saddam Hussein had built a series of dams and diversion systems to drain 90 percent of the water in an area that used to be the world’s third largest wetland. These structures have now been removed, but the areas are still of great danger of drying out. The area is now being protected by new national park designations. However, the land is very vulnerable to upstream construction that Iraq is not the only one obligated to protect this area.
This is horrible! The migratory birds could go extinct because of this water scarcity! What was Saddam Hussein thinking? Why would anyone create dams to drain 90 percent of the water in a certain area! That could do horrible things to that area. This could change some of the most beautiful places to a dried up piece of land that no one cares about anymore.
What do you think will happen to migratory birds if this problem is not resolved?
Who would be responsible in fixing this problem?
Why are these areas so vital in the survival of migratory birds?
That's horrible that the dams were built! Now the migratary birds will probably die all because of another example of how Suddan Hessein is a horrible man. Lots of migratory birds depend on these areas, and now they don't have all this water to use. It's not fair that these birds will have to die because of what Hussein did. Draining 90% of any area is horrible to that area itself, and everywhere around it. This is just something that should never have happened, but yet did.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Iraqi government SHOULD be in charge of fixing this problem, but since things are very unstable there but we still have a presence, we should make use of being there and do something about it. If the U.S. is going to say that it is teaching the Iraqi government what to do, they need to do that by example and help out with environmental protection.
Wow, This is a trajic occurance. I really hope we are able to resolve this problem. Since Iraq is now on the poor side, and no one else is really willing to help, I think it is our job to help them. If the this wetland dries out, it will not only affect Iraq, but the whole world, because this could lead to extinction, exrapolation, or becoming endangered of one or more species, not just the migratory birds of Europe.
ReplyDeleteTO answer the question "What do you think will happen to migratory birds if this problem is not resolved?" I think they will attempt to move to another area where there is food that they can eat. However i also would expect that these migratory birds would have much trouble to this adjustment, and will lower the numbers of their population, but not too dramatically.
Hello Everyone! As I was reading this summary, I was really upset that all these birds could be gone in the blink of an eye! It's also really bad because we know that some of it could have been prevented. I just don't understand whether they would be gone for good or not becasuse if they are migratory birds, then would'nt they just migrate to a different place instead of back to the same one with the water shortage? Anyhow, I found this picture that really describes this water shortage. In the photo, a man is stranding next to a boat that should have been floating in a marsh but that marsh dried up, which also means that no more birds will be coming there! Where will they go next??
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/may2010/20100506_driedmarsh.jpg
I agree with everyone! This is a truly horrible thing that Saddam Hussein would build dams knowing what it would be doing! If he didn't know what it could do to the land then he is not a very smart man.. These birds are going to go extinct if this problem is not resolved, and fast! As Maddy said, this could have been prevented which makes it even worse. If there had been no dams built then these birds and the land would be fine. I know that if i had built those dams and this happened then i would be the one responsible for fixing it so as erika said, the Iraqi government should be the ones to fix this!
ReplyDeleteIn response to your question, "What do you think will happen to migratory birds if this problem is not resolved?" The birds will try to move to another place that has water and food for them but in doing this, i think that many of them will die because they were adapted to a place that they can no longer live in and now they have to move to a completely different place in order to survive. It may take time but i think the birds will eventually be okay.