Gardens and Parks in Baghdad: Combating Desertification and Creating Job Opportunities

Public gardens, parks, and green spaces in the capital Baghdad play a crucial role in limiting desertification, improving the climate, and reducing dust storms. They also serve as vital recreational areas for Baghdad families, especially during holidays, festivals, and public occasions. Families take their children to play and have fun in a clean environment while enjoying dinner outdoors amidst the fragrance of tree leaves.

However, these garden spaces have been gradually diminishing in recent decades due to security conditions and wars that have affected the country, as well as drought waves, desertification, and the expansion of desert areas within the capital and its outskirts. This has made gardens and parks vulnerable to dust storms at various times of the year.

According to official statistics from the Ministry of Planning, desert and rocky desert areas account for 41.89% of Iraq’s total area.

In an attempt to curb desertification after the shrinkage of green spaces in the city, the Baghdad Municipality previously announced its plan to prepare 157 gardens and parks across the capital to welcome citizens. It continues to implement the Green Capital strategy to create a clean environment and mitigate climate change by increasing green spaces. This includes converting abandoned sites and empty spaces into parks and public gardens to become new recreational centers for Baghdad families.

In recent days, many parks and gardens have been opened across the capital, most notably the Al-Qadisiyah Corniche, covering an area of more than 10 dunams. New parks and gardens have also been opened in areas such as Al-Ghazaliya, Al-Saidiya, Al-Ghadeer, Sadr City, Al-Shaab, Hay Al-Jihad, and other regions, serving as recreational outlets for citizens.

Yaqdhan Al-Waeli, Director General of the Projects Department at the Baghdad Municipality, told “Al-Minassa” that “the Baghdad Municipality is seeking to convert all white and unused areas into green zones this year.” He confirmed that “work has begun on more than 24 gardens.”

He pointed to the municipality’s plan to rehabilitate, develop, and increase green areas in Al-Zawraa Park and Rashid Camp, noting that this plan has entered the implementation phase. Additionally, the Baghdad Forest on the outskirts of Kadhimiya City has entered the legal implementation phase, and procedures will begin soon.

Al-Waeli confirmed that “the recently opened Al-Obaidi Park is the largest in Baghdad, covering an area of 25 dunams.” He explained that “this site was previously an abandoned land used as a dump for waste and debris.”

He added that “the park includes a large dancing fountain, children’s playgrounds, seating areas, modern lighting, green spaces, palm trees, various plants and flowers, as well as decorative bulletins and rest shelters.”

The Baghdad Municipality had previously indicated the creation of 108 gardens and the planting of more than 5 million seedlings and 375,000 trees to increase green areas in the capital. It confirmed that it had completed planting more than 100 dunams of green space and 600 trees in the Celebration Square in preparation for its reopening with a new look.

The opening of new gardens in Baghdad enhances job opportunities for unemployed youth. The presence of families in these gardens and parks encourages work opportunities and allows street vendors to sell ready-made snacks, tea, coffee, children’s toys, nuts, and more.

Hassan Karim, 23, carrying a large box filled with ice and mineral water bottles, says he “found an opportunity to work for himself and many young people who sell chewing gum, cigarettes, water, soft drinks, and other items in the newly opened Jadriya Park.”

He added that “the turnout of families to parks during holidays and occasions is high, which stimulates work in these areas and increases the number of vendors.”

Iraqis suffer from poverty, widespread unemployment, and a significant increase in the number of unemployed youth. According to official statistics from the Iraqi Ministry of Planning for 2022, the poverty rate in the country is 22%, equivalent to about 10 million people in a country with a population of about 42 million.

According to World Bank statistics, the unemployment rate in Iraq reached its highest level in 30 years in 2022, with youth unemployment at 36%.

Most Iraqi families find their recreation in parks, as most Iraqi houses lack gardens. Iraqi houses that used to be 400 square meters have been divided into four or more houses for various reasons.

Sana Rajab from the Dora area in Baghdad told “Al-Minassa,” “Due to the need for money, we divided our 300-square-meter house into three houses.”

She added, “Our house was spacious and contained a large garden, a water fountain, and a wide green area. I will never forget the summer nights when family members would sit in this garden to have dinner in relaxation and serenity. We can no longer reclaim it.”

As for Umm Hassan, 55, she told “Al-Minassa,” “We divided our large house into small houses after the children grew up and got married, and they cannot afford to buy or rent a house due to the high real estate prices.”

For Umm Hassan and many others, gardens, parks, and afforestation processes may be an opportunity to eliminate desertification in the capital and make life there cleaner and easier to live, especially since Baghdad is considered one of the most densely populated capitals in the world.

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