Biodiversity and Ecosystems Biodiversity is the essential element of ecosystems that provides society with means of well-being, such as food and other life necessities. It also contributes to maintaining the natural balance of the ecosystems it inhabits, ensuring the recycling of non-living components within the ecosystem. Iraq, located in the southwest of Asia, has diverse geographical and climatic regions, which can be categorized into five distinct geographical areas: the mountainous and highlands region, the hills and rolling lands, the western plateau, the alluvial plain, and the desert steppe. The variety of ecosystems has resulted in a vast array of biodiversity elements in Iraq, both plant and animal. The geographical nature of Iraq includes mountainous areas in the north and extensive plains and rolling lands extending to the humid regions in the south, giving each area its unique characteristics in terms of living organisms and their types
However, due to administrative deterioration resulting from wars that Iraq has suffered, alongside a steadily increasing population, urban expansion at the expense of naturally vegetated lands, pollution affecting all environmental elements, and changes to terrestrial environments caused by mining operations, dam construction, and canal digging, biodiversity is subjected to varying degrees of pressure threatening its existence. For instance, the draining of marshes (which had preserved their ecosystem and diversity for a long time) led to the destruction of aquatic and plant life and deprived migratory birds of their breeding habitats. Given the importance of biodiversity, it is essential to emphasize that it holds significant value for current and future generations due to its genetic, economic, and environmental worth. This necessitates the formulation of national policies, strategies, and programs for biodiversity conservation linked to sustainable development policies. This requires enacting legislation and laws to protect the environment, including stringent penalties for those who harm it. Iraq signed the Biodiversity Convention with neighboring countries in 2009, which stipulates:
Vision:
The Department of Biodiversity and Ecosystems is a vital component in the field of studies related to the protection of natural living resources in the environment, relying on modern technologies and research-based methods aimed at studying biological development and biodiversity in the local environment. It also seeks to establish scientific studies based on the latest techniques associated with modern standards and sciences.
Mission:
The department and its scientific team aim to preserve the local environment by studying biodiversity and the evolution of organisms, utilizing this knowledge to mitigate environmental pollution in all its forms.
Objectives:
-Keeping pace with global developments in all scientific fields related to the department's focus.
-Providing the community and specialized scientific institutions with up-to-date studies on the environment and biodiversity.
-Preserving unique biological samples in designated locations within the department.
-Adopting optimal methods for removing environmental pollutants using microorganisms isolated from the same environment.
-Identifying new species present in the environment through modern biological techniques and genetic engineering methods.
-Transferring plants from environments similar to the local environment for use in eco-friendly applications.
-Offering scientific support to government institutions through scientific consultations.
-Supporting graduate students in completing their scientific research.