What environmental concerns affect the Tigris-Euphrates river basin?

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The Tigris-Euphrates river basin faces several environmental concerns. Intensive irrigation, essential for agriculture in the region, has led to soil salinization, which progressively destroys the soil and reduces agricultural yields. This is exacerbated by poor drainage systems, causing mineral residues to rise to the surface through evaporation. Additionally, modern water-control technologies, while mitigating flood and drought cycles, have resulted in desiccated marshlands and decreased natural soil nutrient replenishment. The construction of dams and irrigation projects has altered natural water flow, impacting ecosystems and reducing water availability downstream. These environmental issues pose significant challenges to the sustainability of the basin’s agricultural and ecological systems.