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Since May 2003, rapid and significant changes have been occurring in the Iraqi Marshlands. 4
After over a decade of desiccation and decline, almost 58% of the original marshlands has
now been inundated. This re-flooding process continues unabated.

The Iraqi Marshlands Observation System (IMOS) is aimed to monitor the extent and
distribution of re-flooding developments and the associated changes in vegetation cover
during this critical phase is part of the data collection and analysis component of the UNEP
“Support for Environmental Management of the Iraqi Marshlands” project implemented Abu Dhabi, UAE
by the International Environmental Technology Centre (DTIE/IETC) and funded by the
Government of Japan through the UN Development Group Iraq Trust Fund. The IMOS
has been designed, coordinated and implemented by UNEP’s Post Conflict Branch (PCoB)
in collaboration with DEWA/GRID-Europe, and in consultation with DTIE/IETC.

http://imos.grid.unep.ch/
GEOYEAR Book, 2003 , 2004. http://www.unep.org/Geo/yearbook/yb2003/046.htm
GEOYEAR Book. 2004. http://www.unep.org/Geo/yearbook/yb2004/057.htm

A satellite image available from various sources showing degradation of wetlands in Egypt
from 1987 till 1993

Source: Environment Outlook for the Arab Region (EOAR) Report, 2010Environment Outlook for the Arab
Region (EOAR) Report, 2010

IEA Training Manual Workshop for the National Reporting Toolkit (NRT) 85