The United States is studying ways to restore perhaps a quarter of the marshes of southern Iraq, drained by Saddam Hussein to crush the local Shi'ite population, according to a senior official.
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The Iraqi marshes between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers were home to a unique culture and complex ecosystem that lasted thousands of years. The wetlands were largely drained by Saddam to punish the population for supporting a Shi'ite uprising against his rule that erupted after the 1991 Gulf War.

Nearly 300,000 Marsh Arabs, also known as Ma'adan, were bombed, rounded up by troops, killed or forced to march out of the wetlands. Many others disappeared while the marshes that sustained them turned into a salt-encrusted wasteland. Now, fewer than 20,000 remain.
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A report released by the United Nations Environment Program in 2001 found only 7 percent of the once-extensive marshlands remained. UNEP described the deliberate destruction as one of the worst environmental disasters in history, ranking it with the desiccation of the Aral Sea and the deforestation of the Amazon rain forests.

In the interview on Friday, Natsios said much of the water that once fed the marshes had been diverted by flood controls and dam systems put in by Iran, Syria and Turkey to use the headwaters of the rivers.

"The consequence of that is that there is not enough water flow in either river to restore the marshes to what they were," he said.

The marshlands once played a crucial environment role, cleaning the water flowing down river of impurities and providing a breeding ground and stop-over point for migratory birds.

Scientists said the flow of detritus from the marshes into the Gulf had also supported fish populations. The environmental degradation put an estimated 40 species of birds and untold species of fish at risk, and has already led to the extinction of at least seven species.
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The Ma'adan settled deep in the marshes, moving around by boat. They made elaborate dwellings out of thick reeds that sat on woven mats suspended above the water.

Rapid evaporation has left some areas with salt crusts 2 feet deep. Unless fresh water is pumped through at sufficient speed, they will become lifeless salt ponds.

Human rights groups have called the assault on the marshes and its people genocide, and said it could be among the charges if Saddam is ever prosecuted for war crimes.

» CNN.com - U.S. eyes restoring Iraqi marshes - May. 6, 2003