In the 1990s, Saddam Hussein, the former Iraqi president, drained swamps. This act has been described as one of the "worst environmental crimes in history" by the UN. Since the fall of the regime in 2003, they have regained all their splendor. For some, it was at this point between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers that the Garden of Eden was located.
The marshes of southern Iraq were classified as UNESCO World Heritage in 2016 for their biodiversity and historical richness dating back to ancient times. Today, they rely on ecotourism to attract visitors. They were 18,000 in 2018 but despite increased attendance, marshes do not have tourism infrastructure due to a lack of investment by the state. In one of the world's hottest countries where water is chronically scarce, maintaining these wetlands is crucial. This is why the authorities remain cautious about the growth of tourism.