Increasing and Declining Wild Plant Species in the Western Desert of Iraq

The Western Desert of Iraq represents a unique model of arid ecosystems characterized by extreme ecological challenges. Dominated by harsh climatic conditions and diverse topography, ranging from expansive sand dunes to solid rocky terrains, this region presents a distinctive blend of biological scarcity and adaptive resilience, making it an ideal setting for studying temporal changes in plant diversity. Recent ecological studies have indicated that wild plant species in this region are undergoing marked transformations in both distribution and abundance. A noticeable decline has been observed in the populations of several species that were historically widespread, while other species have begun to thrive and expand into new habitats that were previously uninhabitable. This shift is attributed to a complex interplay of climatic, natural, and anthropogenic factors. Climate change, particularly rising temperatures and reduced precipitation, has played a central role in limiting the spread of species dependent on water availability or specific climatic regimes. In contrast, some species with high adaptability to drought and elevated temperatures have benefited from these environmental changes, allowing them to colonize more extreme and arid areas. Certain species once restricted to narrow ecological niches have been observed spreading into regions with poorer soils and lower humidity. At the same time, human activities such as urban expansion, overgrazing, and agricultural development have exerted significant pressure on the desert’s plant ecosystems. These practices have contributed to habitat degradation, resulting in the local extinction or severe reduction of certain species. Therefore, the study of increasing and declining wild plant species in Iraq’s Western Desert is no longer a scientific luxury but a critical necessity, serving as a foundation for understanding ongoing environmental transformations and guiding conservation efforts aimed at preserving the unique biodiversity of one of Iraq’s most ecologically fragile regions.