Project Meeting and the Workshop “Participatory Mapping of Causal Loop Diagrams for the Al-Hawizeh/Al-Adhim Marsh System”

The CAMAAM project held a comprehensive three-day workshop from September 20-22, 2025, at the Cristal Erbil Hotel in Erbil, Iraq. This combined event brought together researchers and stakeholders from Jordan, Iraq, Iran, and Geneva Water hub (Switzerland) to review project progress and conduct a participatory Causal Loop Diagram (CLD) mapping workshop. Day 1 focused on progress presentations from all work packages, showcasing significant advancements in biophysical assessment, climate change modeling, hydrological analysis, groundwater studies, and political-diplomatic dimensions. Days 2 and 3 were dedicated to intensive participatory CLD mapping sessions, where partners developed individual and integrated causal loop diagrams representing the complex dynamics of the Al-Hawizeh/Al-Adhim Marsh (HAM) system. The workshop successfully established a shared visual framework for understanding the marsh ecosystem’s challenges and opportunities for cooperative transboundary management.