For over a decade, residents of the Iranian plateau, an arid and semi-arid region, have faced alarming developments concerning their most precious natural resource: water.
The dry region has been grappling with a myriad of water-related issues, including shortages, groundwater depletion, land subsidence, and the desiccation of vital lakes and marshes, such as Urmia, Hamoon, Bakhtegan, and Arjan.
Sporadic and recent fires in the Hor al-Azim marshes, a large body of water shared with Iraq, serve as a stark reminder that this ecosystem is also in imminent danger. The marshes face desiccation and extreme salinity much as happened with Lake Urmia and elsewhere – because of unsustainable development practices and mismanagement.
Fires in the Hor al-Azim marshes, particularly on the Iraqi side, are a dire consequence of the region's severe drought.
On October 24, a major fire broke out in the marshes, causing widespread air pollution in western Iranian cities in Khuzestan province. Ahvaz declared a state of emergency over the air quality.
Farhad Gholinejad, deputy director of environmental protection for Khuzestan province, said the fire was caused by arid conditions in the marshes and the release of methane gas produced within the waters.
The phenomenon typically occurs during the warm season and autumn.
Nasser Karmi, a climatologist and environmental researcher, corroborated Gholinejad's statements.
He attributed the increased risk of fires during this season to the reduced water inflow into the marshes, which weakens vegetation and lowers humidity, creating an environment conducive to wildfires.
A dwindling water supply is one of the primary threats to the Hor al-Azim marshes, putting it at grave risk of deterioration.
Karmi noted that the volume of water flowing from the Karkheh River into Hor al-Azim has plummeted to just one-fifth of its former capacity.
Over a decade ago, media outlets began raising alarm bells about the impending destruction of this vital wetland.
A 2011 report by the Mehr news agency detailed how droughts, restrictions on upstream water sources, and the allocation of water for agricultural purposes have been key culprits behind the halving of Hor al-Azim's size.
This grim trend continued until two years ago when another report revealed that the construction of the Karkheh and Simreh dams has nearly choked off the inflow of water into Hor al-Azim.
Even more troubling is the fact that some of the water released from upstream dams, as part of the Hor al-Azim water allocation, is lost due to inadequate oversight by the authorities.
In July of this year, Adel Mola, Deputy of the Natural Environment at the Khuzestan Environmental Protection Department, told the ILNA news agency that while a certain quantity of the Hamidiyeh dam's reserve was released for the wetland, "not a single drop ultimately reached the Hor al-Azim."
He noted that farmers had redirected this water for agricultural purposes without proper supervision.
Photographs depicting life in Khuzestan's Hor al-Azim marshes from a few decades ago portray a serene yet industrious existence in the region.
Inhabitants constructed homes in the area, raised buffalo, engaged in fishing, and crafted various products from reeds.
Nasser Karmi has noted that two-thirds of Hor al-Azim is situated in Iraq, with the remaining third in Iran.
He also emphasized that the azure expanse of the wetlands significantly influences climate regulation.
In a region known for its scorching and arid climate, this wetland plays a crucial role in tempering conditions, and also contributes to environmental diversity.
According to this climatologist, the repercussions of Hor al-Azim drying up extend beyond the loss of livelihoods and biological resources.
Most alarmingly, the marshes have transformed into an extensive desert.
Kerami elucidated that this vast desert not only further desiccates the surrounding air but also generates additional dust, exacerbating the hardships faced by the local population.
Hor al-Azim marshes in Iran, which once spanned approximately 150,000 hectares, has now dwindled to around 30,000 hectares.
As Nasser Karmi pointed out, the huge reduction in size carries severe environmental and ecological implications for a wide region within western Khuzestan.
Highlighting the hazardous consequences of the Hor al-Azim marshes desiccation, Nikahang Kowsar, a journalist and environmental analyst, stressed that the destruction of this wetland will lead to the dispersal of dust and other fine particulates from its parched bed and sediments into the air, causing harm to nearby residents.
Currently, when Hor al-Azim experiences partial drying during parts of the year, it leads to an upsurge in dust levels, disrupting the lives of the local population.
Even minuscule particles from this dust can become lodged in the lungs of the residents, resulting in various diseases.
Hor al-Azim marshes, which is also the last bastion of the Mesopotamian Wetlands, is still regarded as an important bird sanctuary in the Middle East. Certain sections of this wetland have been designated as protected areas.
Nasser Karmi underscores the significance of this wetland, stating that beyond its rich fauna and flora, Hor al-Azim inherently offers numerous livelihood opportunities.
The inhabitants who dwell in proximity to and within the confines of Hor al-Azim are heavily reliant on the biological resources this wetland provides.
Nikahang Kowsar also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a wetland, both from an environmental and economic perspective.
This water and environment analyst explains, "Many local residents derive their income from fishing in the marshes. Moreover, buffalo farming hinges on the health of these animals being tied to the wetland. The destruction of the marshes will lead to health issues for these buffaloes, a problem that has already reared its head when the wetland has partially dried."
Yet, this vast expanse of freshwater, considered a treasure for local residents, as well as for the region's wildlife and plant life, has been suffering for approximately a decade.
This is due to both neglect and deliberate desiccation to facilitate oil extraction.
In the wake of reports regarding extensive oil company activities in Hor al-Azim for oil field extraction in 2012, the first accounts of the intentional drying of the marshes emerged.
Jasem Marmazi, an advisor to the governor of Khuzestan, revealed during a scientific seminar that shallow waters in the marshes impede oil extraction, hence the deliberate drying carried out by oil companies.
Ironically, the operation of the Azadegan and Yadavaran oil fields could have proceeded without the need to dry out the Hor al-Azim marshes.
However, according to Ahmad Lahijanzadeh, the former deputy of marine environment at the Environmental Protection Organization, authorities opted to dry the marshes to reduce costs.
Nikahang Kowsar points out that the involvement of oil companies and the Khatam-ul-Anbiya camp of the Revolutionary Guards in the region has not only made life difficult for the local ecosystem but also for nearby communities.
According to Kowsar, the management of the Hor al-Azim area and the interventions that have favored short-term gains for a select few epitomize environmental injustice. There has been a lack of response from any institution to the protests of the local population.
Today, disturbing images of a once-thriving Hor al-Azim marshes reduced to a barren desert are being widely circulated alongside the concerns of environmentalists.
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