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Environmental Sustainability, Misan Rural Areas, Water Salinity, Biodiversity, Multiple Linear Regression.

This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive and reliable statistical analysis to assess the level of environmental sustainability in the rural areas of Misan Governorate, Southern Iraq, in light of escalating climate challenges. The research adopted a descriptive-analytical approach using quantitative data collected via a questionnaire from a random sample of (70) respondents. This was complemented by the analysis of indicators related to water and soil quality, and resource use efficiency. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS software package, employing descriptive statistics (means and standard deviations), Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression analysis. The results revealed severe environmental degradation in the rural areas. The perceived average level of water salinity was high at 4.2 out of 5. Approximately 81% of the farmers confirmed that their crops were affected by salinity, establishing an inverse relationship between water salinity and biodiversity (specifically, the abundance of fish stocks). The multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the studied environmental factors explained 65.6% of the variance in agricultural production (R2=0.656). Both the F and T tests confirmed the high statistical significance of the model (P<0.05). Furthermore, the results demonstrated that water salinity is the most significant negative influential factor on production (B coefficient = - 0.800).

The study concluded that the absence of environmental sustainability threatens food security and livelihoods in Misan. It recommended adopting the statistical analysis model as a decision-making tool and urgently transitioning to modern irrigation techniques to mitigate salinity challenges.