ENHG Talk: Aspects of the Flora and Vegetation of the Arabian Peninsula with Dr. Gary Brown

About the talk: In this Zoom presentation, Gary draws upon his extensive experience of the region to discuss various issues dealing with the flora and vegetation of the Arabian Peninsula as well as a number of associated topics. The first part of the presentation begins by highlighting some of the major problems concerning botanical research and conservation in the region, in particular with examples from the UAE. The second part will look at a several fundamental issues regarding the vegetation, again using examples primarily from the UAE, but also from adjacent areas. The third part will take a more integrated perspective and examine some of the "real-life" questions that arise when working on practical ecological assignments.

Throughout the presentation, Gary emphasises the absolute necessity for a classical field-based approach and a deeper understanding of ecological theory, both aspects that are central to addressing the major ecological challenges facing us today, including the biodiversity crisis, desertification, habitat restoration and climate change. "Modern" methods are seen as useful and invaluable tools, albeit with certain limitations.

About the speaker: Gary Brown studied botany, biochemistry and microbiology at Bonn University. Both his master's and PhD theses focussed on the remarkable heavy metal vegetation and ecophysiology of heavy metal-tolerant flora of Central Europe. After he had completed his PhD, he took up a position at Kuwait University. His research concentrated on the vegetation ecology of degraded desert ecosystems. After a 3-year stint back in Germany to obtain a full professorship degree, Gary returned to Arabia to accept a position as botanist at ERWDA (now EAD). From there he moved to Kuwait to lead research into restoration of desert ecosystems as part of the United Nations Compensation Commission programme resulting from the Gulf War, a theme that has been central to his work ever since, followed by positions at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman and with the Kuwait Government, the latter dealing specifically with mega-restoration projects. Since returning to Europe in 2015, Gary has been working as an independent consultant, mainly on large projects in the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia dealing with vegetation, ornithology, landscape and town planning, national park establishment, habitat mapping and habitat assessments.

Gary has published extensively in international peer-reviewed journals and has contributed to various book chapters on ecological aspects of the vegetation of the Arabian Peninsula.