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April 25, 2003

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WHAT:
Pre-eminent scientists from around the world have begun to plan an ecological restoration project unrivaled in scale or scope anywhere in the world - the restoration of southern Iraq's once-vast Mesopotamian Marshlands. The marshlands were drained by the regime of Saddam Hussein to punish rebels following their 1991 uprising. Today, the marshlands are largely barren wastelands.

The report, entitled "Building a Scientific Basis for Restoration of the Mesopotamian Marshlands," plans to initiate restoration by years' end - and show results by next spring. Restoration of the marshes will have profound economic benefits for Iraq and the region, aiding in the recovery of lucrative Gulf fisheries, and allowing renewed cultivation of rice and valuable date palms-once a key agricultural export for Iraq. Economically important Gulf fish and shrimp species use the marshes as sheltered nurseries.

For many Iraqis, the marshes are a important symbol of freedom and identity; the dwellers of the marshes still carry on a cultural tradition begun by the ancient Sumerians over 5,000 years ago. One expatriate Marsh Dweller told Eden Again officials, "the marshes are our Statue of Liberty."

WHO:
Dr. Edward Maltby, Director, Institute for Environmental Restoration, Royal Holloway University of London
Dr. Curtis Richardson, Director, Duke University Center for Wetlands
Dr. Azzam Alwash, Senior Project Advisor, Eden Again, The Iraq Foundation
Dr. Suzie Alwash, Project Director, Eden Again, The Iraq Foundation
Dr. Michelle Stevens, Project Manager, Eden Again, The Iraq Foundation

PRESS CONFERENCE:
2:00 PM, Tuesday, April 29 Westover Room
Wyndham City Center Hotel
1143 New Hampshire Avenue, NW

CONTACT:
Dr. Suzie Alwash, Iraq Foundation
(714) 606-2955
salwash@elcamino.edu

Raya Barazanji, Iraq Foundation
(202) 347-4662
raya@iraqfoundation.org