Iraqi Gardener Fights Desertification in Baghdad by Distributing Free Trees

Combating Desertification in Iraq

• 🌍 Desertification, the drying up of fertile land, is a pressing threat in Iraq, affecting 39% of its land according to the ICRC.
• ⚠️ Iraq is identified as one of the five most climate-vulnerable countries globally, making initiatives like this crucial.

Abdul Karim Abbas's Greening Initiative

• 🌱 In Baghdad, Abdul Karim Abbas is dedicated to making the city greener by distributing trees for free.
• 🏡 He started by nurturing seedlings in his home and has expanded to planting thousands in a mosque yard.
• 💰 Abbas collects seeds from public trees and also works as a daily wage laborer to buy seeds for propagation.

Promoting Environmental Action

• 🐦 Abbas's nursery features handwritten signs with slogans like "Don't buy a cage, but plant a tree" to encourage environmentalism and attract birds.
• 💡 He emphasizes that while the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the most beautiful time is now, urging people to take action.
• 🌳 Abbass and volunteers plant young trees along sidewalks and in public spaces with the goal of transforming barren plots into parks.