This edited volume is based on the best papers accepted for presentation during the 1st Springer Conference of the Arabian Journal of Geosciences (CAJG-1), Tunisia 2018. The book is of interest to all researchers in the fields of Environmental Sciences, Geoecology, Agroforestry, Geography, Geoarcheology and Geotourism. The Mediterranean Basin, Middle East and surrounding regions are ecologically unique due to large differences in climatic, geographical, and geological features, which grant countries of these regions with significant socio-economic potentials in terms of fertile agricultural lands, rich natural resources, and the existence of strategic resources such as crude oil and natural gas. However, the valuation of ecosystem functions, goods and services of natural and cultural heritages and bioressources of these regions is still little known. This volume offers an overview of the latest information and ideas on the physical environment of these regions, assessment and monitoring of natural bioressources including flora and fauna, and the use of cutting-edge methods for the development of sustainable agricultural systems. It gives also new socio-economic insights on geotourism and archaeology. Main topics include:1. Environmental Assessment and Monitoring of Agrisilvicultural Systems2. Environmental Impacts and Restoration Ecology of Natural and Agricultural Habitats3. Investigations and Applications in Environmental Biotechnology4. Spatiotemporal Patterns of Marine Biodiversity and Terrestrial Paleobiodiversity5. Socio-economics of Geotourism and Archaeology
Professor Haroun Chenchouni is Senior Lecturer and Research Ecologist in The Department of Natural and Life Sciences at The University of Tebessa (Algeria). He teaches Forest Ecology, Soil Ecology, Biostatistics, and Ecological modelling. He graduated as an Engineer in Plant Ecology and Forest Ecosystems from the Department of Biological Sciences (University of Batna, Algeria). He holds a M.Sc. in Dryland Ecology from the University of Ouargla (Algeria) and a Doctoral Degree in Ecology from the University of Batna. Dr. Chenchouni's research interests are fairly broad, but revolve around biological interactions and community ecology of arid and semiarid lands of North African ecosystems. He is using statistical modelling approaches to understand how natural environments and anthropogenic perturbations affect biological interactions, shape trends in population dynamics and influence community diversity. He has published more than 50 papers in international journals, six proceedings in international conferences, and two books. He is editor and/or editorial board member of many international journals. In 2017 Dr. Chenchouni joined the AJGS as an Associate Editor responsible for evaluating submissions in the fields of Biogeosciences, Geoecology, Climate Change, Plant and Soil Science, Agricultural and Forest Environment, and Environmental Science.
Professor Errami Ezzoura is a lecturer and researcher at Chouaïb Doukkali University (El Jadida, Morocco) with a strong academic grounding in Earth Sciences and over 14 years of experience in international geoscientific professional organizations (AAWG, IUGS, IAPG, ArabGU, IGEO, GSAf, AGN...). Her current major research interest is petrology and structural geology, geoheritage, geotourism, geoeducation, sustainable development and gender related studies in geosciences. She is author/coauthor of numerous refereed scientific papers, reports, guidebooks and other articles and co-editor of numerous books.
Professor FERNANDO JOAQUIM FERNANDES TAVARES ROCHA
Born in Lisbon on 7 January 1956. Degree in Geology from the University of Lisbon, in 1984; PhD in Geosciences (Geology) from the University of Aveiro, in 1994; DSc (Habilitation) in Geosciences (Clay Science) from the University of Aveiro, in 2000. Full professor (Mineral Resources, Geosciences Department) since 1st August 2002 and Director of GEOBIOTEC Research Centre since 2007. Has played several positions at the University of Aveiro, including: Head of the Department of Geosciences (1998 to 2002, 2011 to 2015), Pro-Rector (infrastructures and Campii management, 2003 to 2007) and Vice-Rector (research, innovation and technology transfer, 2008 to 2010).
After a brief passage (1984/85) by the private sector of public works as Engineering Geologist, developed academic career at the University of Aveiro since 1986, with scientific and pedagogical activity in the fields of mineral resources, marine and coastal geology, and medical and environmental geology.
Professor Luisa Sabato is an Associate Professor of stratigraphy and sedimentology at the University of Bari, her main interests concern facies analysis of continental and shallow-marine successions, and the study of geological heritage.
