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The Government of Iraq, (GOI) Ministry of Agriculture, (MOA) is responsible for the
protection of rangelands in Iraq. MOA staff and livestock owners are expressing
concern that not enough is being done to prevent overgrazing and degradation of the
rangelands. It is widely believed that past management practices have already led to
the degradation of significant areas of the rangelands. This calls into question the longterm sustainability of this land for livestock grazing under current management practices.
The USAID Agriculture Reconstruction and Development Program for Iraq (ARDI),
supported by the USDA, Forest Service International Programs Office (USFS) is
undertaking a program of rangeland management to address these issues. The program
will be carried out in conjunction with the MOA/ARDI livestock production program, the
purpose of which is to increase production and income through new technologies and
better animal nutrition and health, and to increase the size of buffalo herds and sheep
flocks. The promotion of pasture improvement, fodder production and modern
rangeland management practices are important parallel activities if this purpose is to be
achieved.
(source:Introduction)