Abstract:
Mediterranean ecosystems are highly valuable mainly due to their increased biodiversity levels. Safeguarding those ecosystems under the increased challenges of climate change is not easy. Educating people is one of the powerful tools to further enhance environmental sustainability. When properly inform on the structure and function of ecosystems this will results in well-informed students and well-trained professional that can detect potential environmental threats and suggest solutions to problems. Reduced regeneration success and problems associated to increased invasiveness are a few examples that Mediterranean ecosystems face, mainly due to increased disturbances associated with abrupt climatic variation as well as mismanagement. A characteristic example at Nestos River protected area in Greece is the problematic regeneration of the historic species of Quercus robur mainly associated with invasive problems. Further actions should be taken to protect the biodiversity levels of those valuable ecosystems and enhance regeneration success. Education is a key factor for long-term sustainable management.
Keywords: Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecology, Endangered species, Restoration
Biography:
Dr. Valasia Iakovoglou is a distinct graduate of Iowa State University, USA. She has more than 25-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 more than ten international journals and a reviewer in more than fifteen, as well as a reviewer at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). She has more than 100 publications (books/book chapters, peer-reviewed scientific articles) and more than 20 international projects. She is active in many scientific societies such as the Mediterranean Experts of Climate and environmental Change (MedECC) and the International Network of Bioresource Management (INBM). She holds leading positions such as: Director of Ecotourism Sector of the UNESCO chair Con-E-Ect; Executive Board of Directors of Climate Smart Agriculture Youth Network Global (GCSAYN) in Africa; “General Secretary” of associations such as the “Association of Inter-Balkan Woman’s Cooperation Societies (AIWCS)” of UNESCO Center for the peace in the Balkan area; International Council of World Tourism Forum Institute; Country Chair of Greece of the G100 Women of the World serving as for Farming and AgriTourism
