Hydraulic Engineer Wins Prize for Restoring Iraqi Marshlands

Azzam Alwash has been awarded the 2013 Goldman Environmental Prize for his efforts to restore the Mesopotamian Marshlands in Southern Iraq, which were extensively drained and damaged by dam construction upstream, resulting in ecological damage and displacement of the Marsh Arab communities.

Alwash founded the non-profit "Nature Iraq" in 2004, and worked with the Iraqi Government, local communities, international organizations and donors, using his experience as a hydraulic engineer to restore the marsh ecosystem.

As part of the restoration, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) designed and helped implement the Iraqi Marshlands Observation System, which monitors re-flooding and re-vegetation of the marshlands, and has expanded safe drinking water and sanitation to six communities