Eden Again, About Us

For 2005, Nature-Iraq in partnership with the Iraq Foundation is currently engaged in the following projects:

Master Plan development with sponsorship from the Italian Ministry of Environment and Global Territory (IMET). The effort involves working with the Iraqi government, including ministries of water resources, municipalities and public works, environment, oil, health, education, transportation, communication, etc., and local stakeholder groups, to collect data, develop alternatives and work on plans for their implementation.
Work with Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) on capacity building and scientific research to include personnel from Iraqi universities to collect data, analyze samples, common research projects and train Iraqi students and scientists in Iraq and Canada.
Work with United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) on remote sensing field data collection and analyses, pilot project area monitoring and implementation, and coordination of the international donor nations efforts. Financing for these projects is through the grant of IMET as well as contracts with the Iraqi Ministry of Environment.
Work with Iraqi legislators to develop regulatory framework for the restoration of the Iraqi marshes and the redevelopment of the south. Sponsorship of this effort will be through IMET as well as other potential sources that have expressed interest in the process.
Work with like-minded NGO's on common projects focused on environmental issues in Iraq in general and in the marshes in particular.
Design and construct the first Green Village in the south with sponsorship from IMET.
Work on developing plans for an overall survey of biodiversity in Iraq. The project is an extension of the on-going work sponsored by CIDA and IMET for the survey of the south of Iraq. Additional financing for the overall project is going to be secured through international donor agencies and the project will be developed with like-minded NGO's in neighboring countries with experience in this kind of work.
Develop plans for a research center focused on environmental issues to be headquartered in central Iraq.
Continue to spread the word regarding the importance of the marshes in Iraq and internationally through attendance in seminars, conferences, etc.

The Eden Again Project represents the bulk of our past work. The mission of the Eden Again Project is to promote the restoration of the Mesopotamian Marshlands. Our previous projects (some having evolved into current on-going projects) are listed below. We would like to emphasize that all of the actual restoration actions to date (reflooding the marshes) have been undertaken by the Marsh Dwellers themselves and by the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources. In addition to our projects, we coordinate closely with projects being planned or implemented by other organizations; please see our "links" section to learn more about these other projects.

"The New Eden: Water Resource Management in Postwar Iraq," Italian Ministry of the Environment and Territory, September 2003 to April 2004. The general objective of this project was to focus on the identification of key water management problems and to develop a priority action plan to improve the quality of life and the environment in southern Iraq.

"Technical Assistance for the Iraq Marshlands Restoration Program" U.S. Agency for International Development, February 2004 to September 2004. The overall objective of the USAID project is to improve the social and economic lives of the marsh dwellers, assess the success of wetland restoration, strengthen Iraqi commitment to marshland management, and reach national and international concensus on long-term restoration strategies. Nature-Iraq/Iraq Foundation's Eden Again Project is providing technical assistance within Iraq to assist USAID in meeting its program objectives.

"Evaluating Alternatives for the Restoration of the Mesopotamian Marshlands," U.S. Department of State, April 2002 to August 2003. This project included convening an International Technical Advisory Panel, developing preliminary hydrologic computer models, holding a Restoration Planning Workshop, developing a Stakeholder Outreach Plan, and initiating this website.