The Iraqi Marshlands tell the story of a 5,000-year-old civilization and represent a unique human heritage unchanged for centuries. These marshes are considered the cradle of writing and the first cities, making them a living testament to the oldest human civilizations. In the 1990s, Saddam Hussein's regime launched a large-scale campaign to drain the marshes, partly to punish the Marsh Arabs for their opposition to his rule. This draining campaign was an environmental and humanitarian catastrophe that turned vibrant ecosystems into barren desert and forced hundreds of thousands of Marsh Arabs to flee their homes. After the fall of Saddam's regime in 2003, a massive restoration effort was launched. The dams and channels built to drain the marshes were breached, and water began flowing back into the region. This restoration was a remarkable success - ecosystems began to recover, and Marsh Arabs began returning to their ancestral homes. For more: Iraqi Marshlands - Garden of Eden