伊拉克出版首本阿拉伯语

伊拉克出版首本阿拉伯语 23-01-2007

Wildlife conservation in Iraq has been given a significant boost with the release of a guide to Iraq’s birds – the first field-guide of its kind for the nation.

Covering the 387 bird species that have been recorded in Iraq, this is the first comprehensive, fully-illustrated field-guide to an Arabic-speaking country. The field-guide was made possible through funding from the Canadian Government via the Canada-Iraq Marshlands Initiative, the World Bank, the Ornithological Society of the Middle East (OSME) and AviFauna.

The book is due to be presented to the Iraqi President, Jalal Talabani, in the next few weeks.

Under the regime of the previous government, almost 90% of the Marshes were destroyed through drainage. With reduced numbers of fish and the failing of crops, many people were forced to flee to neighbouring Iran and Jordan.  Since this time however some 40% of the land has been re-flooded and wildlife – with it food for Iraq’s people - is returning.  [4]

“It’s recognised across the world that biodiversity can enhance quality of life in a region. By publishing this field-guide with Nature Iraq, we are improving the ease with which people can become involved in conservation in the region; a positive step which has potential economic benefits for the nation as a whole.”  Mr Porter commented.

Press/photos or to arrange an interview:  Jules Howard, Communications Officer, BirdLife International.  Tel: +44 (0)1223 279809; Mobile: +44 (0)7971069098; email: jules.howard@birdlife.org

UK: Richard Porter, BirdLife International: +44 (0) 1263 740322, richardporter@dialstart.net

Jordan: Sharif Jbour, BirdLife International:  sharif.jbour@birdlifemed.org

NOTES:

[2]  Notes on ‘Field Guide to the Birds of Iraq’:

Copies of ‘Field Guide to the Birds of Iraq’ (price £15.00 including postage) can be obtained in the UK from OSME Sales: e-mail:  sales@osme.org

[3]  The Mesopotamian Marshes are one of the most biodiverse regions in Iraq. These areas form one of the largest wetlands in the Middle East, providing a vital stop-over for thousands of waterbirds on migration and during the winter months. They are also recognised by BirdLife International as an Endemic Bird Area (EBA) based on the fact that the area contains three species that occur nowhere else in the world; Iraq Babbler Turdoides altirostris, Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus griseldis and Grey Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus.

[5]  Over the past two years, BirdLife International, funded by the Canadian Government, has been training biologists at Nature Iraq to carry out bird and other wildlife surveys of the internationally important Mesopotamian Marshes. This training has covered recording techniques, plant identification, habitat monitoring techniques and practical skills like measuring water quality.

[6]  Richard Porter is co-author of the guide, the senior author being Mudafer Salim on behalf of Nature Iraq

不是第一本阿拉伯语的图鉴