保育團體伊拉克自然保護聯盟（Nature Iraq）阿瓦許博士表示：「從北部的庫德到南部的美索不達米雅沼澤，我們的調查凸顯伊拉克的鳥類、生物多樣性與人們對於全球的重要性。」
阿瓦許博士是伊拉克自然保護聯盟的執行長，自然保護聯盟是總部在英國的國際鳥盟(BirdLife International)在伊拉克的分支機構，剛完成第五度全國主要生物多樣性地區的冬季調查。
這次調查觀察到了幾種全球瀕危及特有的鳥類，調查小組也發現一種水獺的特有亞種，十分罕見，有些科學家甚至相信這水獺已在沼澤地絕跡。
從2005年起，伊拉克自然保護聯盟就與伊拉克環保署合作進行調查與監控主要生物多樣性地區。
美索不達米亞沼澤對冬季水鳥是特別重要的棲地，也是中東最重要的溼地之一，這些沼澤對許多鳥類及其他野生動物的復育十分重要。
幾世紀以來，幼發拉底河和底格理斯河流域間的沼澤一向是魚米之鄉，直到海珊政權耗盡了其90%的地利，迫使當地阿拉伯人逃離該地區。「在這期間，這地區的氣溫上升了攝氏5度」阿瓦許博士說。
自從2003年海珊政權瓦解，沼澤區開始重新有生物棲息，水也開始流回這國際重要的溼地，重新創造一個充滿生機的棲地，使得生物多樣性在這個地區延續。
最近溼地面積已超過9000平方公里，使得調查工作成為具挑戰性的任務。但是沼澤因乾旱與密集的水壩建設，與上游灌溉計畫而再次萎縮。
伊拉克自然保護聯盟是國際鳥盟生為旅遊計畫之一。目標在於促進候鳥的復育，以及候鳥沿著非洲-歐亞的飛徑棲地復育。藉由生為旅遊計畫，伊拉克自然保護聯盟正在尋找保護候鳥的奧援。
"From Kurdistan in the north, to the Mesopotamian Marshlands in the south, our surveys have highlighted the global importance of Iraq for birds, biodiversity and people," said Dr. Azzam Alwash of the conservation group Nature Iraq.
Dr. Alwash is chief executive of Nature Iraq, which is the Iraq affiliate of the UK-based BirdLife International. The organization has just completed its fifth winter survey of Key Biodiversity Areas across the country.
Along with sightings of several Globally Threatened and endemic birds, the survey teams discovered an endemic sub-species of otter that has been seen so rarely that some scientists believed it to be extinct in the Marshlands.
Since 2005, Nature Iraq has been working in coordination with Iraq's Ministry of the Environment to conduct survey and monitoring work at Key Biodiversity Areas.
The Mesopotamian Marshes are especially important for wintering waterbirds. "As one of the most important wetland complexes in the Middle East, if not the world, these marshes are essential for the conservation of many species of birds as well as other wildlife,"
For centuries, the marsh region between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers was vital for production of fish and rice until 90 percent of it was drained by Saddam Hussein's regime, forcing the local Marsh Arabs to flee the area. "During this time average temperatures in the area rose five degrees Celsius," said Dr. Alwash.
Since Hussein was ousted in 2003, rehabilitation of the marshes has begun. Water has started to return to the internationally important wetland, restoring a vital habitat that is critical for the survival of biodiversity in the region.
Recently the wetlands covered more than 9,000 square kilometers, making surveys a challenging task. Now, however, the marshes are shrinking again as a result of drought and intensive dam construction and irrigation schemes upstream.
Nature Iraq is part of BirdLife International's Born to Travel campaign, which aims to improve the conservation status of migratory birds and their habitats along the African-Eurasian Flyway. Through the Born to Travel campaign, Nature Iraq is seeking financial support in order to protect migratory birds.
