The Nature of Iraq - from Marshes to Mountains

For the past six years I have had the privilege of working with young Iraqi conservationists to help them prepare for their wildlife surveys in a war-torn country. In July we will be celebrating their endeavours — and the wildlife of Iraq — at an exhibition kindly hosted by the Birdscapes Gallery in Glandford, North Norfolk.

The Nature of Iraq — from Marshes to Mountains

4th–25th July 2010 at the Birdscapes Gallery, Glandford in North Norfolk, England.
Presented by Nature Iraq and BirdLife International.

The exhibition will show, through photographs, the wonderful scenery and wildlife of Iraq as well as tell the story of the work of Nature Iraq, the nature conservation NGO in Iraq, in a forgotten wildlife paradise. Over the last six years NI has made summer and winter surveys of the Mesopotamian Marshes, the western steppes and the woods and mountains of Kurdistan, to help identify the key biodiversity areas for conservation. In addition educational books on wildlife have been produced — including a field guide on birds in Arabic — and a programme started to tackle irresponsible hunting and persecution.

Marbled Ducks for sale in Basra (photo: Omar Fadil)

There will be a sale of prints, greeting cards and other items in support of Nature Iraq. There will also be a sale of specially commissioned paintings on the wildlife of Iraq, with all profits going to Nature Iraq.

Against the mirror (photo: Nature Iraq)

We hope you will be able to come along.