Terrestrial Environment and Ecosystems of Kuwait

lt;p>Majda Khalil Suleiman is the Research Scientist and Program Manager of Desert Agriculture and Ecosystems Program at the Environment and Life Sciences Research Center of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research. She earned her PhD degree in 2016 in "Restoration Ecology" from the University of Western Australia and BSc degree in Botany/Plant Biology from the Kuwait University in 1989. She is a certified Desert Landscaper recognized by Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona, USA. She has over 35 years of research and development experience in agriculture, food security, restoration ecology, urban landscape development and management. She was part of the project team "Development of Kuwait Greenery Master Plan and Urban Demonstration Garden". She has led many research projects and authored several research papers in refereed international journals (58), conference proceedings, abstracts, book chapters (62), books (8) and KISR reports (137). Currently, she is leading a Government Initiative Food Security project and is a Technical Coordinator of four projects implemented under the Kuwait Environment Remediation Program (KERP) 2021-2026. She is a member of National Committees for Biodiversity (CBD) and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of wildlife and flora, an International reviewer of The Euro-Mediterranean Institute for Sustainable Development(EUMISD), the focal point for the HIMA Global Initiative representing the state of Kuwait, was a Member of the program committee of TMREES15 (International Conference on Technologies and Materials for Renewable Energy, Environment and Sustainability). She is the recipient of several awards including the 12th KNPC HSE Performance Award 2018-2019, Kuwait University Poster Day 2018-2019, five Scientific Achievement Awards from KISR for the years 2009-2010, 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2013-2014, 2014-2015, and the recipient of two Awards of Excellence in 2014 and 2015 from the "Euro-Mediterranean Institute for Sustainable Development (EUMISD)". She has also conducted and attended many trainings national and internationally.

Shabbir Ahmad Shahid was embraced with the prestigious Sir William Roberts award to pursue his PhD degree in Soil Science specializing in Soil Micromorphology of Salt-affected Soils at the University of Bangor Wales UK, completed in 1989. He earned BSc (Hons.) and MSc (Hons.) degrees in Soil Science from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan in the years 1977 and 1980, respectively. He has over 42 years of experience as a soil scientist in Pakistan, UK, Australia, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Currently, Dr. Shahid is a Research Scientist in the Desert Agriculture and Ecosystems Program at ELSRC-KISR. He was the technical coordinator in multi-million dollar national soil surveys of the State of Kuwait and Abu Dhabi Emirate and developed a soil survey action plan for the Northern Emirates of UAE and the Republic of Mauritania. Since 1980, he has continued his relentless efforts to create new knowledge in soil science, climate change adaptation and mitigation, food security, agriculture intensification, and informing policymakers and the public at large on the growing problem in food security due to climate change and solutions for dealing with it holistically. At international forums, Dr Shahid has remained intrepid and forthright in expressing his views, and his convictions were driven by the strength of his outstanding scientific expertise. He is respected internationally due to his outstanding contribution to science and is an honored member of the editorial boards of a number of peer-reviewed refereed journals, the member of an executive board, the member of 25 squad councils and the life member of World Association of Soil and Water Conservation (WASWAC). The international scientific community of soil science recognizes him due to being the creator and co-founder of the unique

Part I. Soils, Geographical and Climatic Features, Eco-Resources, and Desertification.- Chapter 1. Potential Threats to Soil Functions and Mitigation Options for Sustainable Uses.- Chapter 2. Perspectives of Geography, Environment, and Physiography of Kuwait.- Chapter 3. Climate and Climate Change Aspects of Kuwait.- Chapter 4. Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity of Kuwait and Proposed Eco-Resources Management Strategies - A Review.- Chapter 5. Desertification - A Central Problem to Restore Ecosystems.- Part II. Water Resources, Salinization Aspects and Modeling.- Chapter 6. Current Status, Challenges and Future Management Strategies for Water Resources of Kuwait.- Chapter 7. Groundwater Salinization in Kuwait: A Major Threat to Indigenous Ecosystems.- Chapter 8. Predicting the Behavior of the Salt/Fresh-Brackish Water Transition Zone During Scavenger Well Pumping: 1. Numerical Model Development and Testing.- Chapter 9. Predicting the Behavior of the Salt/Fresh-Brackish Water Transition Zone During Scavenger Well Pumping: 2. Model Application in Kuwait and Pakistan.- Part III. Terrestrial Ecosystems and their Management.- Chapter 10. Terrestrial Habitats and Ecosystems of Kuwait.- Chapter 11. Native Vegetation and Flora of Kuwait.- Chapter 12. Wildlife of the Terrestrial Ecosystems of Kuwait.- Chapter 13. Major Threats to the Terrestrial Ecosystems and Proposed Conservation Practices.- Chapter 14. Kuwait Deserts and Ecosystems in the Context of Changing Climate.- Part IV. Agriculture, Food Security and Water Footprint of Crops.- Chapter 15. Prospective of Agricultural Farming in Kuwait and Energy-Food-Water-Climate Nexus.- Chapter 16. Agricultural Water Footprint of Major Crops in Kuwait Compared to the World Average - A Review.