Abstract

Assessing Biodiversity status using GIS and Modeling techniques
Track: Environmental Management
Authors: Waleed Roy

The terrestrial biodiversity of Kuwait has been degraded over the past decades mainly due to over grazing and damages as a consequence of the invasion of Iraq back in 1990. Several projects and research relating to the biodiversity of Kuwait have been conducted at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research 'KISR'. Currently on ongoing project at KISR in joint venture with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 'MIT' are looking at these aspects of biodiversity degradation by utilizing a decision support 'DSS' system which will define current and future aspects of the countries biodiversity system. The DSS compromises of a database that utilizes scientific expertise , GIS systems and with three dynamic models (Soil , Vegetation and Climate) to assess current and future status of the terrestrial biodiversity of Kuwait and more .