Prepared by: Dr. Jassim A. Al-Falahi Technical Deputy of the Ministry of Environment

World Heritage in Iraq Cultural: 1.Hatra 2.Ashur 3.Samarra 4.Erbil Fort Natural: No! No!

The Proposed Property

The Goal To secure long-term protection for the hydrological, cultural, and environmental values as a globally important area, and to activate the wise and sustainable use of the natural resources through the generations.

Objectives Developing the quality and quantity of the water; Developing the quality and quantity of the water; Sustainable use of the natural resources; Sustainable use of the natural resources; Reliable and updates database and GIS system; Reliable and updates database and GIS system; Protecting the cultural sites inside the natural components; Protecting the cultural sites inside the natural components; Developing the coordination and cooperation among the local institutions; Developing the coordination and cooperation among the local institutions; Secure the fund (locally, nationally, & internationally); Secure the fund (locally, nationally, & internationally); Enhance the cultural methods in conservation; Enhance the cultural methods in conservation; Enlarge the crucial role of the local communities. Enlarge the crucial role of the local communities.

Our Targets Levels Advocating internationally Global outreach and fundraising Coordination with upstream countries Securing the coordination with the qualifies partners Advocating on the regional level Securing regional fund Protecting the natural and cultural heritage Working closely with partners and stakeholders Continuous awareness and educating Securing the locals fund

- مدير البيئة - كادر المديرية - مركز إنعاش الأهوار (CRIM) - الكادر المعني من مجلس انعاش الأهوار في - ذوي العلاقة - مدير البيئة - كادر المديرية - مركز إنعاش الأهوار (CRIM) - الكادر المعني من مجلس انعاش الأهوار في - ذوي العلاقة - مدير البيئة - كادر المديرية - مركز إنعاش الأهوار (CRIM) - الكادر المعني من مجلس انعاش الأهوار في - ذوي العلاقة - موقع الوركاء - موقع أور - موقع أريدو Project Management Structure

Process Followed Establishment of strategic partnership with international institutions and sharing the visions; Establishment of strategic partnership with international institutions and sharing the visions; Allocating the required fund; Allocating the required fund; Raising the general awareness on different levels; Raising the general awareness on different levels; Finding the Steering Committee - the national umbrella; Finding the Steering Committee - the national umbrella; Preparation of a feasibility study on the natural values; Preparation of a feasibility study on the natural values; Intensive Capacity-building program; Intensive Capacity-building program; Comprehensive revision of the literature; Comprehensive revision of the literature; Preparing the Nomination File and its attachments. Preparing the Nomination File and its attachments.

Challenges New National Experience, and the limited technical capacity; New National Experience, and the limited technical capacity; Absence of the institutional related infrastructure; Absence of the institutional related infrastructure; Lack of the general awareness of the World Heritage Convention; Lack of the general awareness of the World Heritage Convention; Lack of the required in-depth studies; Lack of the required in-depth studies; The financial and the general conditions in the country. The financial and the general conditions in the country.

Achievements The creation of a the inter-ministerial National Steering Committee - The first of its kind in the Arab Region; The creation of a the inter-ministerial National Steering Committee - The first of its kind in the Arab Region; Establishment of Iraq’s first national park in one of the components of the nominated property; Establishment of Iraq’s first national park in one of the components of the nominated property; The allocation of national and provincial funds for the conservation and management of the cultural components; The allocation of national and provincial funds for the conservation and management of the cultural components; Qualified natural and cultural national teams, able to initiate new nominations; Qualified natural and cultural national teams, able to initiate new nominations; An enhanced awareness among the different levels of the stakeholders; An enhanced awareness among the different levels of the stakeholders; Preparing the management plan for the proposed property; Preparing the management plan for the proposed property; Revising relevant legislations and joining international conventions (CBD, Ramsar, etc); Revising relevant legislations and joining international conventions (CBD, Ramsar, etc); Preparing the Ahwar Case Study adopted by the ARC-WH. Preparing the Ahwar Case Study adopted by the ARC-WH.

Advocacy Advocacy on the highest levels Advocacy on the highest levels Presenting and discussing the project in the Council of the Ministers where it got unanimous voting

Advocacy Advocacy on the institutional level - Examples Advocacy on the institutional level - Examples With Ministry of Tourism With Ministry of Oil

Advocacy Advocacy on the institutional level - Examples Advocacy on the institutional level - Examples With Ministry of Water Resources With the Local Governments

Capacity-building Programs Different trainings and workshops Different trainings and workshops

Awareness & Education of WH Meetings with Local Communities Meetings with Local Communities

International Meetings International/Regional Efforts During one of the consultation meetings in Amman During meeting held in Bonn

Accompanying IUCN & ICOMOS missions With ICOMOS Expert in Uruk component With IUCN Expert in Huweiza component

Example on the Government Support