Wetlands of Mass Destruction: Ancient Presage for Contemporary Ecocide in Southern Iraq

“If we fail to recognize the signals, aided by the lessons from the historical precedents outlined in Wetlands of Mass Destruction, we will see the slow steady erosion of that which is most precious.” Niall Kirkwood, Chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture, Harvard University

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“In bringing together these ancient writings with an account of the ecological calamity besetting the marshlands of modern Iraq, Dr. France evokes the voices of the past to illustrate and explain the present.” Joseph A. Green, Assistant Director of the Semitic Museum, Harvard University

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“These haunting quotes from four thousand years ago leave us to ponder whether today’s civilizations have the wisdom and the vision to avoid a world in which we are left searching for a ‘single reed marsh’ in a ‘desolate wilderness.'” Henry Lee, Director of the Environment and Natural Resource Program, Harvard University

|”A very good and important book that should be read not only by restoration ecologists and practitioners, but it is suitable for anyone wanting to learn more about how closely connected are human and ecological systems.” Keith R. Edwards, Restoration Ecology|”I enjoyed the great black and white photographs. The quotes were keenly interesting and the essays were just great” B. Howdy, Spokane Exchange|”Wetland of Mass Destruction is a small but great volume on the Southern Iraqi marshes that goes back to ancient Mesopotamia. . . . The volume includes wonderful photos of marsh life taken by Western archaeologists and journalists . . . that give a rich view of marshland life.” ―S. Hanish, Digest of Middle East Studies|”A fascinating result . . . [that] stimulates us to rethink how we should understand our historical sources. The present may indeed provide us with interesting questions in our study of the past.” ―Maurits W. Ertsen, Water History Journal

Robert Lawrence France is an ecologist at the Harvard Design School where he teaches courses on water management, restoration design, and environmental theory. He is the author of Deep Immersion: The Experience of Water, Profitability Soaked: Thoreau’s Engagement with Water, and Wetland Design. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Edward L. Ochsenschlager is a professor emeritus at Brooklyn College.