Valasia Iakovoglou

Title : Enhancing restoration while saving water

Abstract:

The summer of 2022 has been characterized as one of the most arid periods that induced problems related to water availability. The lack of water negatively affected the restoration efforts of ecosystems as well as the production in general. Particularly for the Mediterranean semi-arid regions, high frequency and intensity of drought events pose many obstacles to the regeneration and restoration efforts. Nonetheless, research has indicated that seedlings that undergo a period of water stress prior to transplant, have a greater percent of survival success. The aim of this study was to investigate the responses of forest species that were subjected to water deficit conditions prior transplanting. Based on the results, seedlings that were treated with reduced water, were able to successfully survive and maintain growth vigor. Consequently, by preconditioning seedlings for water-deficit conditions the benefit is dual; both saving water with the reduced irrigation frequencies and increasing the seedling survival under harsh arid growth conditions. 

Biography:

Dr. Valasia Iakovoglou is a distinct graduate of Iowa State University with 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 and reviewer in more than twenty peer-revied Journals 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 is the Secretary General Board Member. Since 2018 she is the Director of the Ecotourism Sector of the UNESCO chair Con-E-Ect.