One of the teachers of the College of Education for Human Sciences at the University of Basra conducted a joint research on (the impact of environmental degradation in rivers on the reassessment of international agreements related to transboundary waterways. Shatt al-Arab River - southern Iraq - a case study).
The teaching professor at the College of Education for Human Sciences - University of Basra, Prof. Dr. Safaa Abdul-Amir Rasham Al-Asadi, has published a joint research entitled (The Impact of Environmental Degradation in Rivers on the Re-evaluation of International Agreements Related to Cross-Border Watercourses. Shatt Al-Arab River - Southern Iraq - Case Study) in a journal (Sustainable Water Resources Management), a solid international magazine within the containers of (SCOPASS) publishing house (Sprinker).
The research aims to clarify the extent of environmental degradation in the Shatt al-Arab River after the conclusion of the 1975 Algiers Agreement, in order to re-evaluate it in order to ensure the reduction of degradation processes. The results of the study showed that the riverbed was subjected to a great threat from the deterioration of the characteristics of fresh water and green cover, and the prevalence of drought and warming conditions. The Algiers agreement emphasized the demarcation of the river's borders and the freedom of international navigation, without regard to the importance of sustaining the flow of fresh water. The minimum environmental runoff in the river is about 124 m3/s, which is necessary to maintain fresh river water.
The study suggests adding the principle of fresh water sustainability as an amendment to the agreement. This principle allows the contracting parties to cooperate jointly to secure the minimum ecological flow of the river.
