The Hur-Al-Azim Marsh: A Shared Heritage under Threat from Transboundary Water Policies

Abstract

Climate change and increasing human water consumption have become major threats to global water security, creating challenges for sustainable water management. As water scarcity intensifies, transboundary water systems are vulnerable to inconsistent policies among neighboring countries. In this context, marshes as vital elements of aquatic ecosystems contribute to water purification, flood control, biodiversity preservation and the reduction of sand and dust storms. This study examines the environmental and socio-political consequences of the drying of the Hawizeh Marsh, a transboundary marshland shared between Iran and Iraq, emphasizing the importance of conserving landscape heritage and assessing policy impacts on the adjacent Hur-Al-Azim Marsh. It explores how climate change and inadequate governance have accelerated the marsh’s desiccation, leading to ecological and social transformations. The findings highlight the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to safeguard transboundary water heritage under increasing climatic and anthropogenic pressures.