Salma Talhouk

AUB IBSAR Initiative
AUB

Salma Talhouk; PhD in Landscape horticulture. Joined AUB as an assistant professor in 1992 and was promoted to full professor in 2005. Professor Talhouk’s research and community development activities focus on the conservation and sustainable use of plant biodiversity in Lebanon and the Middle East. She has led research in the field of plant genetic resource assessment in Lebanon and is the author of several articles in international refereed journals. Professor Talhouk is actively involved with community based projects. She has characterized the diversity of many plant and tree species in Lebanon and has led the establishment of a native forest tree nursery that directly serves municipalities throughout Lebanon. She is co-founder of AUB’s nature conservation center, Ibsar, and currently serves as the chairperson of the Department of Landscape Design and Ecosystem Management. Her current research interests are the promotion of community stewardship of natural resources through diversification and decentralization strategies. Talhouk is currently leading three main projects: a native tree planting program that promotes decentralization through local community and youth action, a biodiversity village award project that engages communities in creating their own green maps, and extensive urban greening program that investigates the use of native species for landscape purposes in urban greening of roofs and facades.