Iraqi environmentalists battle desert by planting trees

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In addition to the devastation wrought by three decades of war, the country of Iraq is also suffering in many places from the encroachment of the desert as a result of water shortages and sandstorms.

In an effort to hold the desert back, local officials have planted and irrigated more than 120,000 palm trees, olives, and eucalyptus trees to create a “green belt” around the city of Karbala.

This video is from AFP, June 10, 2012.