The fourteenth Sustainable Development Goal aims to conserve and sustainably use the world’s oceans, seas, and rivers. Rivers and marine ecosystems provide food, medicines, biofuels, and economic opportunities through fishing and tourism, as well as absorb the impacts of climate change. In addition, rivers are essential for maintaining biodiversity and the functioning of the global ecosystem. However, 20 percent of the world’s coral reefs have already been lost, and an estimated $5 billion is now lost in the fishing industry annually due to climate change and pollution. Faculty and students in the Sustainable Tourism concentration in particular are working to promote sustainable tourism in the Al-Anbar Euphrates River to ensure that the fishing industry continues to thrive in ways that have reduced environmental impact on our local marine ecosystems. At Al-maarif University College, we understand the importance of the fourteenth sustainable development goals. Most of the civilization in Iraq is based around the two rivers, and hence the river life does affect our lifestyle significantly. Our part of Al-maarif University college is to educate and inform our students and society about the importance of life below water through:
1- Supporting aquatic ecosystems through education
2- Supporting aquatic ecosystems through action
3- Water-sensitive waste disposal
4- Maintaining a local ecosystem