Environmental Expert Proposes 'Iraqi Model' to Combat Desertification and Restore Green Belts

Environmental and agricultural expert Odai Al-Rubaie introduced a scientific initiative titled the "Iraqi Model" to mitigate desertification and rehabilitate urban green belts, noting that over 50% of these protective zones have been lost in recent years. The proposal focuses on planting nine climate-resilient tree species and calls for entrusting these initiatives to academic and research institutions to guarantee sustainable irrigation and maintenance, bypassing purely commercial approaches.