European topic centre - university of malaga

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Dania Abdul Malak

ETC-UMA DIRECTOR

Dania Abdul Malak

ETC-UMA DIRECTOR


daniaabdulmalak@uma.es

+34 951 952 995



Dania Abdul Malak is a senior environmental researcher and Director of the European Topic Centre at the University of Malaga (ETC-UMA). She has over 15 years’ experience in environmental assessment and management. Her research focuses on setting transferable guidelines to apply ecosystem-based management to nature conservation and biodiversity protection at regional scales, including the Mediterranean and Europe. Her work supports the evidence behind the implementation of different Global, European and Mediterranean Directives such as the EU MSFD, the EU MSP, the EU Habitat Directive, the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Coastal and Marine Environment in the Mediterranean, as well as the Ramsar and the Carpathian Conventions.

Dania supports the European Environment Agency (EEA) by developing integrated ecosystem assessment frameworks to evaluate the functional capacity of ecosystems to provide ecosystem services. Furthermore, she coordinates several regional initiatives and participates in numerous international research projects related to her field of expertise. More recently, Dania is supporting the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) in implementing sustainable Development Strategies in Western Asian countries.

She has written several scientific papers and has co-authored many international and regional technical reports and books, namely Adapting to Climate Change- an assessment of Vulnerability and risks to Human Security in the Western Mediterranean basin (Abdul Malak et al., 2017); the European forest ecosystems report (EEA, 2016); European ecosystem assessment – concept, data, and implementation (EEA, 2015), Monitoring Post-fire EVI regeneration in the Eastern Iberian Peninsula using GIS and Remote Sensing in International Journal of Applied Geospatial Research (2016) among others. More on publications are available in the ETC-UMA´s publication section.

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RESOURCES

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Journal Articles

Mapping forest condition in Europe: Methodological developments in support to forest biodiversity assessments

Marín, A. I.; Abdul-Malak, D.; Bastrup-Birk, A.; Chirici, G.; Barbati, A.; Kleeschulte, S.

Mapping forest condition in Europe: Methodological developments in support to forest biodiversity assessments Journal Article

In: Ecological Indicators, vol. 128, 2021.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Environmental conservation, Forest

Potential contribution of OECMs to international area-based conservation targets in a biodiversity rich country, Spain

Rodríguez-Rodríguez, D.; Sánchez-Espinosa, A.; Abdul-Malak, D.

Potential contribution of OECMs to international area-based conservation targets in a biodiversity rich country, Spain Journal Article

In: Journal for Nature Conservation, vol. 62, 2021.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Environmental conservation, Marine protected areas, Protected areas

The Status of Coastal Benthic Ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea: Evidence From Ecological Indicators

Bevilacqua, S.; Katsanevakis, S.; Micheli, F.; Sala, E.; Rilov, G.; Sarà, G.; Abdul-Malak, D.; Abdulla, A.; Gerovasileiou, V.; Gissi, E.; Mazaris, A. D.; Pipitone, C.; Sini, M.; Stelzenmüller, V.; Terlizzi, A.; Todorova, V.; Fraschetti, S.

The Status of Coastal Benthic Ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea: Evidence From Ecological Indicators Journal Article

In: Frontiers in Marine Science, 2020.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Environmental conservation, Mediterranean sea

Proceedings

An Indicator Of Forest Fire Intensity Applied To European Forest Ecosystems

Marín, A. I.; Abdul-Malak, D.

An Indicator Of Forest Fire Intensity Applied To European Forest Ecosystems Proceedings

VI Reunión Internacional Fuegored, Malaga, 19-21 Noviembre, 2015.

Links | BibTeX | Tags: Ecosystem, Forest, Forest fire

Technical Reports

EU ecosystem assessment - Summary for policymakers

Maes, J.; Erhard, M.; Conde, S.; Rodriguez-Vallecillo, S.; Barredo-Cano, J. I.; Paracchini, M.; Abdul-Malak, D.; Trombetti, M.; Vigiak, O.; Zulian, G.; Addamo, A.; Grizzetti, B.; Somma, F.; Hagyo, A.; Vogt, P.; Polce, C.; Jones, A.; Carré, A.; Hauser, R.

EU ecosystem assessment - Summary for policymakers Technical Report

Joint Research Center (JRC) 2021, ISSN: 1831-9424.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Ecosystem services, Environmental conservation, Forest, Land and soil, Pressures, Protected areas, Wetlands

Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services: An EU ecosystem assessment

Maes, J.; Teller, A.; Erhard, M.; Condé, S.; Vallecillo, S.; Barredo, J. I.; Paracchini, M. L.; Abdul-Malak, D.; Trombetti, M.; Vigiak, O.; Zulian, G.; Addamo, A. M.; Grizzetti, B.; Somma, F.; Hagyo, A.; Vogt, P.; Polce, C.; Jones, A.; Marin, A. I.; Ivits, E.; Mauri, A.; Rega, C.; Czúcz, B.; Ceccherini, G.; Pisoni, E.; Ceglar, A.; de Palma, P.; Cerrani, I.; Meroni, M.; Caudullo, G.; Lugato, E.; Vogt, J. V.; Spinoni, J.; Cammalleri, C.; Bastrup-Birk, A.; Miguel, J. San; San-Román, S.; Kristensen, P.; Christiansen, T.; Zal, N.; de Roo, A.; Cardoso, A. C.; Pistocchi, A.; del Barrio Alvarellos, I.; Tsiamis, K.; Gervasini, E.; Deriu, I.; la Notte, A.; Viñas, R. Abad; Vizzarri, M.; Camia, A.; Robert, N.; Kakoulaki, G.; Bendito, E. Garcia; Panagos, P.; Ballabio, C.; Scarpa, S.; Montanarella, L.; Orgiazzi, A.; Ugalde, O. Fernandez; Santos-Martín, F.

Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services: An EU ecosystem assessment Technical Report

Publications Office of the European Union 2020, ISBN: 978-92-76-17833-0.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Ecosystem services, Forest, Wetlands

Enhanced wetland monitoring, assessment and indicators to support European and global environmental policy

Abdul-Malak, D.; Schröder, C.; Guitart, C.; Sánchez-Espinosa, A.; Fitoka, E.; Hatziiordanou, L.; Mino, E.; Flink, S.; Silver, E.; Strauch, A.; Ling, M.; Brown, C.; Simonson, W.; Scott, E.; Plasmeijer, A.; Thulin, S.; Philipson, P.; Weise, K.; Höfer, R.; Franke, J.; Guelmami, A.

Enhanced wetland monitoring, assessment and indicators to support European and global environmental policy Technical Report

2019.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Geotechnology, SWOS, Wetlands

Presentations

Determination of wetland ecosystem boundaries and validation of habitat classifications using remote sensing: Fuente de Piedra (Spain).

Sánchez-Espinosa, A.; Abdul-Malak, D.; Schröder, C.; Martínez-Murillo, J. F.

Determination of wetland ecosystem boundaries and validation of habitat classifications using remote sensing: Fuente de Piedra (Spain). Presentation

01.01.2016.

Links | BibTeX | Tags: Ecosystem, Geotechnology, Land and soil, SWOS, Wetlands

Collaborative science for forests by ETC-UMA  showcased in Slovenia during the COP23

Collaborative science for forests by ETC-UMA showcased in Slovenia during the COP23

As UNEP MAP partner organization, ETC-UMA recently engaged in the organization of a session with Mediterranean institutions under the topic of climate change, entitled: From COASTAL to FOREST ecosystems: Mediterranean Nature-based Solutions to tackle climate change and ensure the Resilience ...
Job opening: Senior Specialist in Forest ecosystem conservation and climate resilience

Job opening: Senior Specialist in Forest ecosystem conservation and climate resilience

ETC-UMA is opening a vacancy to recruit a highly motivated and well qualified candidate to work as a Senior Specialist in Forest ecosystem conservation and climate resilience. This position seeks to consolidate ETC-UMA´s working area in forest conservation research through ...
Tools for conserving the Spanish coast

Tools for conserving the Spanish coast

On the initiative of the Instituto Universitario Hábitat Territorio y Digitalización (iHTD) of the University of Malaga, around 70 representatives of Spanish public administrations, researchers, architecture and environmental science players and civil society signed up to the second debate on ...
Best wishes to all from ETC-UMA

Best wishes to all from ETC-UMA

Warm wishes and all the best for 2024 Looking back at 2023, we celebrate the steps forward in conserving some species and wish the same for those still threatened in 2024. Nuestros mejores deseos para 2024 Celebramos los avances logrados ...
GreenEye System: a cloud-based system to monitor wetlands in Andalusia

GreenEye System: a cloud-based system to monitor wetlands in Andalusia

Developed in the frame of the LifeWatch INDALO project cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the study of biodiversity and global change in Andalucia, GreenEye System, this new cloud-based monitoring system, provides useful tools for wetlands’ assessment, ...
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