Technical Meeting of Government of Iraq and UNEP Support for Environmental Management of Iraqi Marshlands - Summary Report

18-19 April 2007
Paris, France

Summary

The bilateral meeting between the Government of Iraq and UNEP to discuss the UNEP Support for Environmental Management of the Iraqi Marshlands Project was organized at UNEP on 18 April 2007.

The meeting was organized with the following objectives:

1. To discuss Iraqi environmental priorities and to carry out work planning, especially:
   
• to analyze the progress of the on-going phases of the project
  
• to discuss cooperation for the new phase, and identify areas of potential further work and priorities
  
2. To hold high-level dialogue between Her Excellency Mrs. Narmin Othman and DTIE Director

The Iraqi Delegation was headed by Her Excellency Mrs. Narmin Othman, Minister of Environment of Iraq, and included representatives from the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works.

During this meeting, the confirmed continuation of Phase III of the UNEP Iraqi Marshlands project was announced, with funding from the Government of Japan. The participants provided inputs to the proposed activities and prepared for the initiation of this phase. In addition, detailed discussions on on-going project phases, especially on remaining tasks to be undertaken and completed were held. Representatives from the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works also presented various priority initiatives for the Iraqi Marshlands and beyond.

On 19 April 2007, technical discussions continued on the new phase as well as the priority projects identified by the Ministry of Environment during the high-level dialogue. With the presence of Italian delegation, the participants also discussed potential cooperation with Italian-sponsored initiatives.

Recommendations for UNEP Iraqi Marshlands Project Phase III

The third phase of the project is expected to include a pilot project for water provision with alternative energy, a pilot project for water quality - wetland management, capacity building, and community level initiatives. The following recommendations were provided for various project activities:

• Water provision pilot:for alternative energy, ensure that any experimental aspects of the projects have a period of maintenance and hand-over, so that the project sustainability is more secure. Basrah may be a priority governorate for pilot implementation, to ensure fair distribution of pilot sites among the three governorates. The Iraqi side will begin the process to evaluate and recommend suitable communities.
  
• Water quality/wetland pilot:look into the feasibility of using constructed wetlands along the Main Outfall Drain (MOD) to improve water quality and restore wetlands. This work may be tied into the ongoing discussion on the diversion of sewage from the Euphrates to the MOD. Add environmental monitoring to the pilot project.
  
• Training:Look into holding international training in the neighboring countries, such as Turkey and Syria. Enforce criteria for the selection of trainees.
  
• Marshland Information Network:support environmental monitoring, and have the results made available on the MIN and other fora.
  
• Follow-up on capacity building:evaluate how trained personnel have been utilized in various institutions, and see how such capacity can be utilized further.
  

Additional phase III recommendations included the following:

• Carry out activities that are visible on the ground for the local communities
  
• Build links with other donors, such as the Italian project
  
• Provide MOE with a copy of the project document, upon completion (MOE to verify whether it is necessary to clear Phase III again within the Iraqi domestic mechanism, as the first umbrella project is already cleared).
  

Discussions and Recommendations for Project Phase I, II-A, and II-B

For the ongoing project phases I, II-A, and II-B, detailed discussions on activities that remain to be finalized were held between UNEP and the Iraqi delegation. The following sections summarize the discussions held and decisions.

Ministry of Environment

Based on the discussion between UNEP and the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry has agreed to undertake the following actions:

• Finalize the Phase I MOU. Provide activity report to UNEP by 30 April, provide financial report and close by 30 May 2007 as agreed in the MOU revision.
  
• Finalize the MIN MOU, with the revised list of equipment. The signing of the hand-over notes should take place within 2-3 days.
  
• Provide the Strategic Plan of MOE to UNEP (preferably in English).
  
• Provide the 2005 and 2006 State of the Environment of Iraq to UNEP. UNEP Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA) will see the feasibility of translating this document, as ROWA is helping countries to improve the State of the Environment reports through training.
  
• Look into receiving the sanitation pilot facility, with the provision of support for continuous monitoring and maintenance.
  

UNEP agreed to undertake the following actions:

• Prepare a final report of activities at the closing of each phase. MOE would like to submit it to the Ministry of Planning.
  
• Provide 200 copies of the "Back to Life" brochure in Arabic and 100 copies in English, or look into printing in Iraq.
  
• Provide publications, such as training manuals, etc.
  
• Phase I: Provide explanations as to the sanitation pilot being carried out in one (1) community only.
  
• Phase I: Provide full descriptions of the constructed wetland sanitation plants. Many sites would benefit from this technology, and having detailed descriptions would help.
  
• Phase II-A: Ensure that the problem with the data saving function of the Marshland Information Network (MIN) is resolved.
  
• Check with BBC about the availability of the Earth Report on the Iraqi Marshlands to be provided to MOE.
  

Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works

The Ministry has agreed to the following action, in cooperation with UNEP:

• Finalize hand-over of the six water stations to MMPW.

Ministry of Water Resources

The Ministry has agreed to complete the following action, in cooperation with UNEP:

• Submit the revised summary report for Phase I MOU, by the end of April 2007.

UNEP agreed to undertake the following actions:

• Provide copies of Arabic and copies of English, or look into printing in Iraq.
  
• Provide publications, such as training manuals, etc.
  

Preliminary List of Priorities for Iraqi Institutions

The following priorities were presented by the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works at the meeting:

Ministry of Environment

1. Kurdistan Water Resource Management project
   
2. Natural heritage - Ecosystem Management project
   
3. Radioactive pollution study
   Note: CRIM and the Ministry of Science and Technology have also done a similar survey.
   Note: UNEP Post Conflict Branch (PCoB) conducted a survey in Serbia and training on equipment use.
   
4. Remediation of radioactive contamination
   
5. How to handle war remnants
   
6. Treatment and clean-up of polluted sites
   
7. Capacity building on ESTs for ministry staff on water/wastewater
   
8. Biological study of endangered species in Iraq
   Note: Most of them are in the marshlands and some have returned.
9. Study of land cover variation in Iraq (extension of the IMOS tool developed during phase I of the UNEP Marshlands Project to increase the coverage from the Marshlands to the entire country)
   
10. Integrated environmental assessment
    
11. Air quality and air pollution monitoring
    
12. Hazardous waste management
    
13. Monitoring of air pollution with Canadian support
    
14. Water quality monitoring of incoming rivers to Iraq
    Note: ROWA has an earlier report on the water quality accepted at that time by the Syria and Iraq/Kuwait
    
15. Study of noise pollution
    
16. Industrial development for reed products in the marshlands
    
17. Project for industrial and domestic waste exchange
    
18. Multilateral environmental convention ascension support (submitted by ROWA to MOE)
    

Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works

1. Traditional cities restoration project / training on how to deal with (Sammar, Mosul) to conserve traditional architecture, etc.
   
2. Pilot project on water supply (40% does not have access to clean water)
   
3. Directorate needs equipment and automobiles for road
   
4. Urban planning laws for support (proposed by UNEP ROWA)
   

Clarification on Responsibility within Iraq for MMPW:

• Municipal and solid waste
  
• Industrial and hazardous waste
  
• Medical waste is not, as this is under MOE
  

Ministry of Water Resources

1. The MOWR plan for 2015 is to carry out works of US$29 billion, and the most important issue is the O/M of all the water-related infrastructure and construction and rehabilitation of Irrigation projects.
   
2. Land reclamation project to reclaim the entire 15 million ha of irrigable land in the country. In the last few years major focus was put on the construction of dams particularly the Bekhme Dam which needs a fund of nearly US$2.5 billion.
   
3. Mosul dam safety is a major issue, and the MOWR focus is to prevent any potential failure of the dam and improving the safety of the structure. MOWR is employing new grouting technologies and modeling capabilities that help in minimizing risk and provide better operation modes.
   
4. Water quality issues are major issues in Iraqi river systems. Iraq needs a national strategy for developing water quality monitoring.
   
5. Technical aspects: MOWR is intent to provide modern management tools in decision-making. The staff need support in utilizing these to present the results and improve efficiencies.
   
6. Waters supply of Basrah: in 1970s, Basrah's drinking water was taken from the Shatt Al-Arab. In the 1990s Shatt Al-Arab water became undrinkable. MOWR constructed Basra Sweet Water Canal, which is 240 km long. The Japanese financing has major stakes to implement the water supply in Basrah.
   
7. Hydropower issue: there are many dams, and 25% of the power need for the country can be generated from hydropower. Only 35% of the installed capacity is utilized due to deteriorated infrastructure.
   

Donor and Domestic Coordination of Environmental Priorities

• In November 2005, there was a donor coordination meeting organized by UNEP, and now there is a need to follow-up, to take stocks and to move forward.
  
• The original idea was donor coordination limited to activities in marshlands. UNEP was requested to assume the role of the donor and domestic coordination liaison. Most donors have been on board, with active engagement of Italy. US has been on and off engaged in the coordination process.
  
• CIDA will fund an additional governance project in the marshlands, but some projects are being cut back. The question is, does UNEP still need to support donor coordination?
  
• Ascension to Ramsar convention: Iraq needs a management plan and needs assistance for such plan development and implementation. Al-Huweizeh marsh borders between Iran and Iraq. After 30 years of non-communication, the first meeting supported by UNEP was held last year, with both countries.
  
• Technical issues can be solved. ROWA will be able to help in coordination.
  

Her Excellency Mrs. Othman asked UNEP why UNEP has the coordination role in marshlands and not for the other areas. UNEP responded that if MOE needs assistance in coordinating with other donors, UNEP may be able to provide such assistance. Domestic coordination inside Iraq is to be handled by MOE.