Dr Azzam Alwash, Founder and President of the board 
I have done many strange things over the past 9 years of work in Iraq and on behalf of the Nature of Iraq, but recently I gave a lecture (a short one) in a Hawaiian Shirt, Shorts and Flip Flops. The event - the annual Waterkeeper Alliance which was held this year in Chicago and attended by the CEO, former Congressman Robert Kennedy, Jr. as well as over 200 Waterkeepers from all over the world. Nature Iraq started in the spring of 2011 the newest Waterkeeper Program called the Iraq Upper Tigris Waterkeeper with the idea of spinning it off as its own NGO as soon as it can stand on its own feet and raise funds for itself and then it is to spawn and replicate to create as many Waterkeeper associations in the rest of Iraq and perhaps even the region (Turkey, Iran, Syria and eventually create a regional Waterkeeper Network - I know, I know --- you are all smiling to yourselves now but , If I am going to dream, I am going to dream Big - its free!
On the fund-raising side - the economic crises in the west continues to daunt our efforts to raise enough funding from governmental sources, so in order to tap into the tax exempt donation potential of the US, Nature Iraq’s legal counsel, Virginia Tice and Pete Nichols (of the Waterkeeper Alliance) and a group of their friends and supporters of Nature Iraq have started and registered the Nature Iraq Foundation. We have the non-profit status with the IRS under Section 501 C(3) of the US tax code. Their objective is to support not only Nature Iraq, but other environmental NGO's working on nature in Iraq and the region in general. We of course are grateful for the support of many of those who have donated to our cause and specifically for the continued support of the Italian Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea without whose support none of the activities described herein and on this web site would be possible.
On work - we continue to do biodiversity projects, be it Key Biodiversity Areas program, Trainings, etc., but this year and last marks the beginning of our foray into the world of tracking carbon dioxide generation. I was also in Amman recently with a group of Iraqis who are involved in the training for the Green House Gases Inventory and the analyses of said data in the eventual writing of the first National Report as Iraq has already joined the Convention on Climate Change. One thing I really love about my job - I continue to learn new stuff every day. Never a dull moment. I suppose this is why by Bucket List keeps on getting longer :). Oh - and I want you all to add two new destinations to your personal Bucket List: Nature Iraq's eco-camps in the marshes and in the mountains of Kurdistan. Nothing like watching the dawn break on the waters of Baghdadia Lake listening to a distant song of a fisherman or a bird and the hushed, beating strokes of a pole as your marshman poles your mashouf into the sunrise. Or better yet, get your kicks riding the white waters of the Lower Zab followed by a barbecue at our camp watching sunset behind the massive shoulder of Peramagroon Mountain.
On recognitions and awards - On behalf of Nature Iraq I received the 2011 Award for Environmental and Sustainable development of the Arab World (read more about the Takreem Award here) and also a BBC film that we helped with on the Mesopotamian Marshes recently won an award for cinematography (you can read more on this here). Lastly on the 24th of July, the US News Program 60 Minutes re-aired the Murrow Award winning interview that Scott Pele did with me in 2009 (you can check this program out here). Our staff is getting offers for study abroad left and right and I am having a hard time keeping the talented young Iraqis but that is life. I actually get a kick from seeing that our kids are achieving success in their professional lives and I know they will come back and work for the Nature of Iraq, if not Nature Iraq.
Which brings us to: Transitions - I am handing the reigns of leadership of Nature Iraq to the next generation of environmental activists in Iraq. I aim to do so officially by the end of the year, however, lest you think I am going to go into the sunset like an old soldier, rest assured I will be on the board of Nature Iraq for as long as Nature Iraq needs me. Meanwhile, my Calendar for the remainder of the year is getting full with lectures scheduled in DC, London, Abu Dhabi, Columbia, etc., etc., etc.
Cheers to all, have a wonderful summer! And if you can, do check us out on our facebook pages (Nature Iraq & Iraq Upper Tigris Waterkeeper)
