Keywords
Citation
Asem, S.O. (2012), "2011 Awards for Excellence", International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, Vol. 4 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCCSM.41404aaa.014
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
2011 Awards for Excellence
Article Type: 2011 Awards for Excellence From: International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, Volume 4, Issue 1
The following article was selected for this years Outstanding Paper Award for International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management
“Biodiversity and climate change in Kuwait”
Samira Omar Asem
Food Resources and Marine Sciences Division, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Safat, Kuwait
Waleed Y. Roy>
Food Resources and Marine Sciences Division, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Safat, Kuwait
Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the various consequences of climate change on the biodiversity of Kuwait. Many world organizations have established strategic plans for climate change, such as The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, which is adopted in 2002 by the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Design/methodology/approach -- The paper utilizes a wide range of research projects completed at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), which provide information leading to the degrading effects and risks of climate change on the biodiversity and ecosystem services of Kuwait.
Findings -- The biodiversity of Kuwait is under severe stress due to natural and anthropogenic factors. The region is also threatened physically and biologically by the global warming phenomena. More severe and harsh climatic conditions will cause increase in formation of sand dunes, sand encroachment, and extreme dust storms. In 2008, Kuwait has the worst ever reported summer since 1991 with increase in intensity and frequency of dust storms. Drought will cause more water demand for local consumption and irrigation. The seawater temperature increase would affect the spawning period of fish and shrimp and would cause migration of fish to other more suitable areas. This would cause severe impact on the fish industry in Kuwait and the region. Losses in plant cover will be due to sand encroachment or erratic rainfall periods causing runoff and flooding.
Research limitations/implications -- The work is based on various projects at the KISR and by some journal publications that relate to climate change impact on biodiversity. More research work is needed to test the long-term impact of climate change on biodiversity of Kuwait.
Originality/value -- There is a need to develop a strategic plan for climate change mitigation and adaptation in Kuwait. Specific elements of the plan would include: research for identification of vulnerable species, collecting field population data, conducting modeling research to inform conservation programs; monitoring key species; ex situ conservation using living collection and ensuring representation in conservation collection; in situ conservation and increase in protected areas; education and public awareness programs; networking; and sharing knowledge.
Keywords: Plants, Deserts, Biodata, Land, Kuwait, Global warming
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/17568691011020265
This article originally appeared in Volume 2 Number 1, 2010, pp. 68 - 83, International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management
The following articles were selected for this years Highly Commended Award
“The role of afforestation programme in combating desertification in Nigeria”
Nasiru Idris Medugu, M. Rafee Majid, Foziah Johar and I.D. Choji
This article originally appeared in Volume 2 Number 1, 2010, International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management
“Appraising climate change information reported to congress”
Matthew R. Auer and Michael Cox
This article originally appeared in Volume 2 Number 2, 2010, International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management
“Adapting to climate change in Himalayan cold deserts”
Gargi Banerji and Sejuti Basu
This article originally appeared in Volume 2 Number 4, 2010, International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management
Outstanding Reviewer
Mr Tiziano Pignatelli
Italian Agency for New Technology Energy and the Environment, Italy