Baghdad: The Ministry of Youth and Sports has embarked on a scouting initiative with dual objectives: reviving the maritime heritage and cleaning the banks of the Tigris River. The Scouts Department, under the Ministry’s Department of Physical Education and Sports and led by Dr. Muwaffaq Abdul Wahab, has organized this initiative to activate the role of Water Scouts in preserving the navigational legacy of this historic river. This effort is complemented by a volunteer campaign to clean the riverbanks in collaboration with various institutions.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Director of the Scouts Department, Amer Abdul Rahman, emphasized that the initiative’s primary goal is to resurrect the navigational heritage tied to the Tigris River, highlighting its importance as a crucial element of Iraq’s cultural and heritage identity. The initiative aims to showcase the skills, customs, traditions, and crafts historically linked to river navigation, which have been passed down through generations.

The initiative featured a field campaign involving young scouts in efforts to remove water hyacinth and clean the riverbed. This activity was designed to promote volunteerism and community service, instill a sense of environmental responsibility among participants, and support national efforts to address the environmental challenges posed by the invasive plant species. It also aimed to preserve water resources and reduce the negative environmental impacts of the plant’s spread.

The initiative is in harmony with governmental and national directives focused on environmental protection, resource rationalization, and emission reduction. It supports the national initiative for energy conservation and sustainable practices, ensuring the preservation of the Tigris River’s cultural heritage and fostering environmental consciousness in future generations.