FAO and Ministry of Environment Conclude National Training Programme to Strengthen Iraq's Capacity to Monitor Land Degradation

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with the Ministry of Environment (MoE) concluded a two-phase national capacity-building programme in Basra and Baghdad, to strengthen Iraq's ability to monitor land degradation using field data, satellite imagery and digital mapping technologies. The initiative aims to strengthen the technical capacities of specialists from the Ministry of Environment and partner institutions for evidence-based management of Iraq's land resources.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Salah El Hajj Hassan, FAO Representative in Iraq, and Dr Najlaa Al-Waeli, Director General of the Technical Department at the Ministry of Environment, and brought together, Ministry of Environment specialists, technical staff and officials from across the country.

 The training was delivered under the FAO-implemented, Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded project "Sustainable Land Management for Improved Livelihoods in Degraded Areas of Iraq", which seeks to reverse land degradation and promote the sustainable management of land and water resources, particularly in southern Iraq's vulnerable marshland ecosystems, while strengthening the resilience and livelihoods of rural communities.

The launch of the training coincided with the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, observed annually on 17 June, with the 2026 Global [C1] theme“Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore” [C2] Through the GEF-funded project, FAO and its government partners are supporting Iraq's efforts to tackle desertification, soil salinity and drought by strengthening monitoring systems, improving land management practices and enhancing national capacities— contributing to more resilient landscapes and sustainable livelihoods for rural communities.

 A key component of the project is the development of Iraq's Land Degradation Monitoring Platform, a digital system that combines field observations with satellite imagery and digital mapping tools to better track changes in land cover, land productivity and soil fertility, and support decision-making. The platform will help government institutions identify land degradation hotspots, assess risks, prioritize restoration efforts, and support farmers in adopting more sustainable practices.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Salah El Hajj Hassan, FAO Representative in Iraq, stated: "Strengthening Iraq's capacity to monitor and address land degradation is essential for protecting natural resources, improving livelihoods and advancing sustainable land management across the country. Through our longstanding partnership with the Government of Iraq and the support of the Global Environment Facility, FAO is helping build the knowledge, tools and institutional capacities needed to guide evidence-based action. We look forward to building on this collaboration to scale up sustainable land management solutions and support Iraq's environmental and agricultural priorities."

The first phase of the training programme, held in Basra , focused on spatial field data collection for land degradation monitoring. Participants received both the theoretical and field-based practical training on field survey design, spatial data collection tools, soil and water monitoring techniques to support the operationalization of the developed national land monitoring platform for Iraq.

The second phase of the training programme, took place in Baghdad , and focused on remote sensing applications, GIS analysis, and the use of Google Earth Engine for land degradation monitoring. Participants strengthened their skills in analyzing satellite imagery and generating information that supports environmental monitoring and sustainable land management planning.

 Dr Najlaa Al-Waeli, Director General of the Technical Department at the Ministry of Environment, emphasized the importance of strengthening national capacities for land degradation monitoring and data-driven environmental management, noting that the training and platform will help  improve land monitoring systems, enhance inter-institutional coordination and provide reliable information for sustainable land management planning and informed decision-making in Iraq.

With the completion  of the training programme, participants have acquired the skills needed to collect, analyze and manage land degradation data, contributing to the sustainable operation of Iraq's national land monitoring platform and strengthening evidence-based decision-making.

The programme contributes to Iraq's efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 15 (Life on Land), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), while supporting the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2025-2029) through strengthened environmental governance, climate resilience and sustainable natural resource management.

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