Locations of the Ahwar of Southern Iraq, World Heritage Site.

Around 20,000 Marsh Arabs live in southern Iraq.

The marshes today remain one of the poorest areas in Iraq.

The wetlands span thousands of square miles in the middle of desert.

Alwash says he feels vindicated by the UNESCO listing.

But the marshes that survived for thousands of years have taken a beating in recent decades. Iraqi governments since the 1950s began draining parts of the marshes to expand agriculture and drill for oil.

Much of the land along the Gulf Coast is, or was, marshland.

But since Saddam was toppled in 2003, there have been efforts to restore the suffering marsh ecosystems.

There are still threats to the marshes primarily from agricultural runoff as well as drought attributed to climate change.

A few years ago, people were looking and laughing at me saying why do you want to restore the marshes?

In the 1980s, at war with Iran, Saddam Hussein sped up their destruction so the marshes couldn't serve as a refuge for fighters.

Iraqi American environmentalist Azzam Alwash and Nature Iraq, the group he founded, have set up an eco camp in the heart of the marshes.

While men in the marshes fish, women and girls do most of the manual labor including cutting and transporting the reeds.

Some students of ancient history believe the marshes, lined with reeds, teeming with fish and filled with birds, are the site of the biblical Garden of Eden.

On June 17, the UN cultural agency, UNESCO, added the marshlands and the ancient Sumerian cities that once flourished among them to its list of World Heritage Sites.

Other than Him who created me . He will show me the right way .

Except Him Who has created me , for He will soon direct me . ( To my place of migration . )

except Him who originated me and He will guide me .

Save Him Who hath created me , and then He would guide me .

Except Him ( i.e. I worship none but Allah Alone ) Who did create me , and verily , He will guide me .

Except for He who created me , for He will guide me .

except the One Who created me and , behold , it is He Who will direct me to the Right Way .

Save Him Who did create me , for He will surely guide me .

excepting Him who originated me indeed He will guide me .

except Him who originated me , for He will guide me '

Except for He who created me and indeed , He will guide me .

except for the One who has created me and will guide me .

Save Him Who created me , for surely He will guide me .

I worship only Him who created me , and He will certainly guide me ,

( I worship ) only Him Who made me , and He will certainly guide me .

The marshes are in one of the safer parts of Iraq, just a few hours from Basra, but there are few foreign visitors.

Inhabitants of the marshes known as the Ma dan share the floating islands where they build reed houses with domesticated water buffalo, usually a household s most valuable possession.

The marshlands are on a main migratory bird path from Africa. With the water and fish stocks restored, pelicans, flamingoes and marbled teal ducks fill the skies.

The man who believed said O my people , follow me I will guide you to the right path .

And the believer said , O my people ! Follow me , I shall show you the way of righteousness .

Then said he who believed , ' My people , follow me , and I will guide you in the way of rectitude .

And he who believed said O my people ! follow me , I shall guide you to the path of rectitude ,

And the man who believed said O my people ! Follow me , I will guide you to the way of right conduct i.e. guide you to Allah 's religion of Islamic Monotheism with which Musa ( Moses ) has been sent .

The one who had believed said , O my people , follow me , and I will guide you to the path of rectitude .

The person endowed with faith said My people , follow me I shall direct you to the Path of Rectitude .

Follow me . I will show you the way of right conduct .

And he who had faith said , O my people ! Follow me I will guide you to the way of rectitude .

He who was a believer said ' Follow me , my nation , so that I may guide you to the Right Path .

And he who believed said , O my people , follow me , I will guide you to the way of right conduct .

The believing man said , My people , follow me and I shall show you the right guidance .