Valasia Iakovoglou

Title : Climate change and multi-disciplinary research-based solutions for long-term sustainable ecosystems

Abstract:

Restoring, conserving and maintaining long-term sustainable ecosystems requires a multi-tasking hard effort. Independently of the “type” of ecosystem, this effort is even harder under the challenges of climate change. In order to better study and sustain ecosystems, a multi-disciplinary research-based approach is needed. Scientists from different research fields need to collaborate in order to achieve the best outcome for maintaining their long-term structure and function. To better understand the multi-tasking need for research, examples of past and ongoing studies will be presented. Specifically, research on seed sampling, seedling production, irrigation treatments and transplanting success, nature-based solutions and the proper practice of Ecotourism will be presented. All these examples provide insights on how to better understand the structure and function of ecosystems in order to achieve their long-term sustainability through the involvement of multi-disciplinary research fields.
Last but not least, emphasis will be given on the importance of “dissemination” to properly educate/inform people worldwide on ways to successfully sustain ecosystems under the multi-challenges they face, with emphasis on climate change.

Audience Take away:

• Being informed on plant performance after transplanting
• Nature-based solutions for achieving long-term sustainable ecosystems under climate change alterations
• Use Ecotourism as a “tool” to educate visitors on eco-friendly manners to respect ecosystems
• Dissemination: a powerful tool to educate/inform people on the structure and function of ecosystems under the
challenges of climate change

Biography:

Dr. Valasia Iakovoglou is a distinct graduate of Iowa State University, USA. She has more than 20-yrs of national/international research and teaching experience as an Ecophysiologist/Silviculture expert in seedling production and Restoration/Conservation of Ecosystems with emphasis on Biodiversity under the challenges of Climate Change. She has received numerous scholarships, awards and recognitions. She is an editor of nine international journals and a reviewer in more than fifteen with one of them being the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). She has more than 100 publications (such as books/book chapters and peer-reviewed scientific papers). She is active in many scientific societies such as the Mediterranean Experts of Climate and environmental Change (MedECC) and associations such as the “Association of Inter-Balkan Woman’s Cooperation Societies (AIWCS)” of UNESCO Center, where she serves as Board Member. Currently she is the Director of the Ecotourism Sector of the UNESCO chair Con-E-Ect.