Conservation Field Guide
ICARDA
Total years of experience :31 years, 11 Months
Developing field guides for several genera such as Medics* and Lathyrus**, by using Lucid program to develop computer friendly program for the identification of species.
* Al-Atawneh, N., Shehadeh, A., Amri, A. & Maxted, N., 2009. Conservation Field Guide to Medics ICARDA, Syria.
** Shehadeh, A., Al-Atawneh, N., Amri, A. & Maxted, N., (2011) . Conservation Field Guide to Grasspea and Chicklings of the Mediterranean Basin. ICARDA, Syria. (in press)
Worked at ICARDA since 1985 as a research assistant and as a Research Associate since 2003, curating the genetic resources of pasture and range species including (regeneration, identification and characterization, multiplication, evaluation and participation to collections and training activities of the GRS).
Along the years I have acquired important skills which are highly valued by my centre:
Expertise in in situ conservation:
I have conducted eco-geographic surveys in four countries of the Fertile Crescent since 1999. I have provided expertise in the selection of several natural habitats in Syria for protection including Al -Lujat protected area and the habitat in Idleb. I have participated to several training courses on in situ conservation.
Expertise in taxonomy:
Taxonomic identification of legume species and several other forage and range species.
Developing fieldguides for several genera such as Lathyrus and Medicago, by using Lucid program to develop computer friendly program for the identification of species.
Expertise in gap analysis:
Acquired expertise in using DIVA-GIS, FloraMap, MaxEnt and other programs used for gap analysis. I have already completed the gap analysis for Lathyrus and is now working on gap analysis for another crops and taxons.
High skills in compiling databases for various species from different sources and in identifying duplicates towards the development of reliable databases.
Expertise in GIS:
Having the needed skills to use GIS tools for genetic resources distribution, identification of sites for in situ conservation, gap analysis and targeted collecting missions.
Other skills:
Contributed to the success of many international and regional workshops and conferences organized by GRU-ICARDA.
Organized travelling field tours on "Conservation and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources" since 1998 to date for students of Birmingham University. In addition.
Curating the GRS-Herbarium at ICARDA.
SGRP Technical Exchange Fellowships for CGIAR Genebank Staff, 1 October 15 November, ILRI, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Botanic and ecogeographic surveys in the project site of the "GEF/UND Dryland Agrobiodiversity in the Dry Areas Project" in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Botanical and ecogeographic surveys and Management Plan of the IFAD project "Agricultural Development in Rural Areas of Idleb Province in Syria".
2000-2006: Assistant to the Regional Coordinator of the GEF/UNDP Dryland Agrobiodiversity Project.
2002: Botanic and ecogeographic surveys in the project site of the "GEF/UND Dryland
Agrobiodiversity in the Dry Areas Project" in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
2002: Pasture and Forage Legumes Germplasm collection in Jordan.
2003: Pasture and Forage Legumes Germplasm collection in Lebanon.
2001: Botanic and ecogeographic surveys in the project site of the "GEF/UND Dryland
Agrobiodiversity in the Dry Areas Project" in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
2001: Pasture and rangeland germplasm collection mission in Dhufar region, Oman.
Publication and presentation: • Makkouk, K.M., S.G. Kumari and A. Shehadeh. 1992. Seed transmission of pea seed-borne mosaic virus in Lathyrus and Vicia forage legume species. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, 99 (6): 561-563.
1988-1991: Research Assistant, Forage and Pasture Legumes Germplasm, Genetic Resources Unit, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, ICARDA, Aleppo, Syria.
1985-1988: Research Assistant, Cereal Germplasm, Genetic Resources Unit, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, ICARDA, Aleppo, Syria.
1981-1985: Head of Silo and Seed Plant, The General Company for Silos, Seed Plants and Feed Plants, Aleppo, Syria.
1981: Lecturer Assistant and demonstrator, Plant Protection Dept., Faculty of Agriculture, University of Aleppo, Syria.
2011: Ph. D. Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources, School of Biological Science, the University of Birmingham, UK Scientific Courses attended:
1998: "Conservation and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources", School of Biological Sciences, The University of Birmingham, UK.
1996: Post Graduate High Studies Diploma in Agricultural Sciences, Department of Filed Crop Production, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aleppo University, Syria.
1990: Taxonomy and Identification Techniques of Legumes, Department of Botany, Southampton University, UK.
1978: B.Sc. in Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Aleppo University, Syria.