Braving Iraq

The Mesopotamian marshes in southern Iraq once covered 6,000 square miles and were home to many rare birds and animals, as well as a large Arab population supporting themselves as fishermen. But some 20 years ago, Saddam Hussein drained the wetlands in an act of revenge against perceived disloyalty, destroying the natural and human habitat and creating a desert. This PBS-aired NATURE documentary illustrates the efforts of concerned Iraqi and international naturalists to restore the area—fed by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and believed by some to be the site of the “Garden of Eden”—while also dealing with such perils as roadside bombings, factional disputes, and the ever-present threat of kidnapping. Some Iraqis dream of transforming the place into the country's first national park and an international eco-tourist destination (it's an important migration route for eagles, pelicans, and kingfishers, among other species), but restoration work has been patchy and sporadic, due to the nation's ongoing instability, droughts, and upstream dam construction. The film's crew, led by director David Johnson, witness the daily challenges and frustrations but also record the slow progress that's being made. A somewhat offbeat and inspiring documentary, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)