Iraq facing rapid desertification, with 78% of land at risk, monitor says

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq is facing one of its most severe environmental crises in two decades, as desertification spreads, farmland shrinks and vegetation retreats, a member of the Iraq Green Observatory, Omar Abdullatif, said. As of June 2026, roughly 55% of the country's land has already turned to desert, while another 23.2% is at risk of desertification, Abdullatif reported. That means about 78% of Iraq's total area is either already desertified or threatened with becoming degraded land in the coming years if no action is taken. According to the observatory's data, the rate of desertification in irrigated areas has reached 71%, while 61% of agricultural land faces salinization. Abdullatif attributed the build-up of salt in the soil to traditional flood irrigation methods, the lack of effective drainage networks and rising groundwater levels. Roughly 23 billion cubic meters of saline drainage water is discharged into the Tigris and Euphrates rivers each year, contributing to river pollution, higher salinity and damage to fisheries, according to the observatory. Abdullatif also said urban green spaces have shrunk sharply, with most of Baghdad's green belt lost and dust storms now occurring on around 272 days a year. The Iraq Green Observatory has called for a national plan to combat desertification, the introduction of modern irrigation and drainage systems, expanded afforestation projects and support for farmers.