• Dania Abdul Malak, Director of the European Topic Centre on Spatial Analysis and Synthesis of the University of Malaga, talks to us about her experience in CIHEAM Zaragoza’s Master and the impact it has had on the development of her professional career

Born in Btater (Lebanon) in 1977, Dania is an agricultural engineer and has cultivated a brilliant professional career as an environmental scientist. Starting with the International Master in Rural Planning in relation to the Environment at CIHEAM Zaragoza in 2000, she went on to the Mediterranean Center for Environmental Studies (CEAM) in Valencia in Spain to prepare her Final Master’s Thesis ‘Use of GIS to Study Forest Fires in relation to the Environment in the Province of Valencia (1978-2001)’. Dania continued her studies at the Polytechnic University of Valencia working towards her doctoral thesis ‘Fire Regimes and Post-fire Regeneration in the Eastern Iberian Peninsula using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques’.

As director of the European Topic Centre on Spatial Analysis and Synthesis of the University of Malaga (ETC-UMA) since 2015, her work addresses current environmental and conservation issues. Her research, conducted together with her team at ETC-UMA, focuses on the evaluation of the effects of climate change on Mediterranean and European ecosystems. In particular, the research concentrates on the design of integrated methodologies to assess ecosystems in Europe and the Mediterranean in the context of climate change and on how to transform results into recommendations for regional stakeholders, including territorial managers, policy-makers and decision-makers.

During this interview, Dania talks to us about her experience at CIHEAM Zaragoza’s International Master in Rural Planning in relation to the Environment, about the focus of her research and how it relates to her current work at the University of Malaga.

You studied agricultural engineering at the American University of Beirut (AUB). What led you to specialise in environmental management?

The degree in agricultural engineering that I studied at AUB for 4 years gave me greater insight into the subject that was most attractive and interesting to me: ecology. Looking back on what I did in the last year of my degree as well as the different projects and activities, I discovered that ecology was the part that appealed to me most of all. I wanted to learn more about the relationships between species, their preferred habitats and the effect that habitat status has on their longevity and survival. I realised that even though the status of a given species is good, it cannot survive without a healthy habitat. Based on what I learnt and observed, I knew I wanted to dedicate more time to researching and understanding methods to assess the condition of semi-natural habitats and propose solutions for their conservation.

With this interest in mind, I began to seek opportunities to study a master’s programme that would provide me with these tools and methods that I could apply to my work in the future. I was also attracted by the wealth of biodiversity in the Mediterranean that I could study and then later apply my knowledge in the region.

CIHEAM Zaragoza offered the master’s programme you were looking for. What have you gained from this experience?

AlWhen I finished my degree at AUB, I applied for three master’s programmes, two in the Lebanon and the one organised by CIHEAM Zaragoza on rural planning in relation to the environment. As I was accepted in all three, I had to think hard about what each programme really offered me, in terms of professional, personal and cultural growth. I chose CIHEAM Zaragoza.

It was a good experience on all levels, starting from the cultural, linguistic and professional perspective. For me, the added value lies in the friends I have made from all over the Mediterranean, friendships that have lasted 24 years. This is a gift that I treasure deeply.

The master’s programme offered a wide range of modules: from territorial management to applied techniques; geotechnological methods such as geographical information systems and remote sensing. Regarding the lecturers, I was extremely fortunate to come into contact with a wide range of professionals.

This experience gave me the opportunity to use these topics and the network of professionals to deepen my knowledge and do research for my thesis the following year.

In 2015 you supervised an End of Master’s Project of a student from CIHEAM Zaragoza. What was that experience like for you?

When CIHEAM Zaragoza contacted me and asked me if I could supervise a student’s End of Master Project, I was aware of my responsibility to help young professionals develop their work. I was given the opportunity to help Mathilda Merkohasanaj learn more about the application of geographical information systems and remote sensing to monitor wetlands. In addition to testing technological tools, this work took a deep look into the methodology used to monitor agricultural zones and develop spatial indicators to measure the pressure from agriculture surrounding the Mediterranean wetlands. Mathilda learnt monitoring methodologies and tested their utility during her End of Master Project, which in turn helped her to transfer the knowledge acquired and apply it to other ecosystems, specifically coastal and marine ecosystems. She then went on to do a doctorate in coastal wetlands.

Since 2015 you have been directing ETC-UMA, a research centre focused on environmental and conservation issues. What are the main projects you are working on at the moment?

The European Topic Centre for Spatial Analysis and Synthesis (ETC-UMA) is an international research centre based at the University of Malaga. Since 2011, ETC has been engaged in the development of environmental knowledge to support evidence-based policy- and decision-making. The team has extensive experience in different environmental and social areas. The main areas of specialisation include the assessment and monitoring of ecosystems, and the evaluation of ecosystem services, coastal and marine studies, conservation of the environment, and territorial development, using geotechnology. The ETC-UMA team has vast experience in integrating, harmonising and exchanging regional data, generating environmental indicators and developing knowledge-based tools to support resource managers and decision-makers and help them in their understanding and recognition of how they depend on the ecosystems and the impact they can have on them.

ETC-UMA’s work focuses on mapping environmental and anthropogenic pressures and their impact on biodiversity, as well as raising awareness about the value of ecosystem services and evaluation of their implications. ETC-UMA researchers support various international initiatives at European level, collaborating with the European Environment Agency (EEA) in applying different thematic components of its regional strategy and pluriannual working plans, and contributing to several working groups of the European Commission, among others the Group of Experts on Monitoring Ecosystems and the Academy of the Copernicus programme. Furthermore, the ETC-UMA team leads and contributes to several research projects such as the Horizon Plus and EUROMED e Interreg programmes.

One important aspect of your research has been to assess the effects of global change on Mediterranean and European systems. In your opinion, what lessons on resilience can be drawn from the Mediterranean region?

Ecosystem services are direct and indirect contributions made by ecosystems to human welfare. This means that human societies depend on ecosystems functioning well. There are other ecosystem services, such as erosion control, coastal protection, regulation of temperature, and storm buffering, as well as cultural services such as recreation or ecotourism. They are highly appreciated by the Mediterranean populations and are vital in terms of economy and food security.

Over the last 22 years, my post-graduate research work –and since 2015 the work at the centre I lead - has focused on generating knowledge and evidence, in addition to developing methodologies to assess and monitor Mediterranean and European ecosystems. Over these years, our research has enabled us to understand the effect that the status of these ecosystems has on the provision of ecosystem services. The results obtained over the years in the Mediterranean demonstrate that socioecological resilience relies on the health of its ecosystems. The degradation and loss of these ecosystems may have considerable impact on the Mediterranean population’s capacity to guarantee food security.

In addition, intensive planning and degradation of ecosystems, as well as natural hazards and climate change, all present a threat for socioecological sustainability of the Mediterranean in the long term, making the Mediterranean population vulnerable. In order to maintain the resilience of the Mediterranean ecosystem we need to find a balance between socioeconomic benefits, environmental pressure and the impacts of climate change. This is a key challenge for Mediterranean communities, making sustainable management and natural resource conservation fundamental to support the resilience of these Mediterranean communities.

As a former student of CIHEAM Zaragoza, what advice would you give students currently taking a masters in this international organisation?

Based on my experience, the Master offers multiple benefits for its students. One direct benefit is its contribution to the students’ knowledge and professional experience. Equally important are the indirect benefits, such as learning a new language, living in a multicultural environment, and making friendships that extend beyond borders, among others.

Personally, I would urge students to take advantage of all these opportunities that will help them grow professionally as well as personally, becoming ambassadors to consolidate a network of Mediterranean specialists in the topic of the master and in other topics in CIHEAM Zaragoza’s scope of action.

I would also encourage them to make the most of this year. I would recommend them to think about what they can do to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge, experiences and networks and make it a starting point to improve the status of this Mediterranean Basin, with its rich, unique biodiversity, socioeconomy, culture and gastronomy.

And for anyone thinking about applying for a master’s, why would you encourage them to study at CIHEAM Zaragoza?

Studying at CIHEAM Zaragoza has many direct and indirect benefits for young professionals: learning Spanish, one of the most widely-spoken languages on the planet; the theoretical contents, case studies and examples of good practices, field work and practical projects; the chance to get to know young professionals from all over the Mediterranean basin and beyond (in my case I was lucky enough to meet professionals and make friends from Latin America too); the creation of international friendships and the opportunity to progress towards cross-border territorial cooperation in issues related to the course.

Also, I encourage the young professionals to make good use of what CIHEAM Zaragoza has to offer so as to consolidate a community of Mediterranean experts in these thematic areas. Likewise, I encourage former students of CIHEAM Zaragoza to help to make this network grow whenever possible and to supervise End of Maser theses in this centre. In that way they can give something back and make their contribution, be it large or small, to this excellent project of Mediterranean cooperation.