The soils display extensive spatial and temporal variability in their properties, and therefore, their understanding, soil classification, land use management and reclamation are of prime importance. Soil information provides foundation for potential uses and problems that may arise and therefore is the key for policy and decision making, especially in arid regions facing severe water scarcity. The co-occurrence of the International conference and launching of the Abu Dhabi Soil Survey Report will provide excellent opportunities to the international scientific community to share the world soils information leading to proper land use management, and reclamation of degraded land in arid environments.

Objectives

• To bring forth and introduce Abu Dhabi Soil Survey Report to the Scientific Community at large.
• To discuss and review classification of soils and land use in arid environment.
• To examine advances made in soil salinity mapping, monitoring and land reclamation in degraded irrigated agriculture ecosystems.
• To review impacts of use of marginal water in agriculture and landscaping.
• To identify research development (R&D) needs and utilization of database of soil survey and classification including policy and institutions.
• To bring together scientists, professionals and decision-makers to share knowledge and information on land use and planning.

Conference Structure

The Conference will include:

• Launching of the Abu Dhabi Soil Survey Report.
• Plenary papers by invited speakers on a specific conference topic.
• Submitted papers that have been selected="true"="true"="true" for presentation at the conference.
• Workshop on utilization of soil survey data in land use planning and policy implications.
• A field trip to different soil types to agricultural production areas in Abu Dhabi.

 Scientific Sessions

1.  Soil Survey and Classification Strategies and use in different agroecological Zones.
2.  Advances in Soil Salinity Mapping, Monitoring and Reclamation.
3.  Land use planning and policy implications.
4.  Use of marginal quality water in agriculture and landscaping.
5.  Research and Development/Innovations in Soil Classification and Reclamation.
6.  Workshop on constraints, potential and use of soil survey database.

Call for papers

The Scientific Committee invites international scientific community to attend international conference and present their work relevant to conference themes. The interested participants can send an abstract (300 words Arial 11, abstract title Arial 14 bold) through email to Chairman of Scientific Committee. The Scientific Committee will evaluate the abstracts and notify the acceptance or otherwise. The participants would then be requested to submit full manuscript for publication in conference book. All papers will be peer reviewed prior to publication in conference book, which will be distributed to registered participants on May 17.

Language

      English will be the official language of the Conference with possibility for translation in Arabic for some presentations.

Important Deadlines

      30 November 2009 Deadline for abstract submission

      20 December 2009 Notification of abstract acceptance

      15 February 2010 Deadline for submission of extended papers

      30 April 2010 Final program notified to participants

      17 May 2010 Conference starts

Conference Venue

      The Conference will be held in a hotel in Abu Dhabi city.

Travel and Accommodation

• The Organizing Committee will be responsible for travel and accommodation expenses for invited speakers.
• The Organizing Committee will provide full or partial financial support for participants based on innovative research and quality of the paper submitted to the conference.
• To ensure participation from developing countries, financial support will be provided by the Organizing Committee to cover cost of ticket and accommodation.
• The Organizing Committee will assist in visa issuance and logistic support

 Registration

Registration is free for all participants. Registered participants will be provided with conference material, abstract book, copy of conference proceeding, lunches and opportunity to participate in conference study tour.

Conference Committees

1. Conference Chair

HE Majid Al Mansouri, Secretary General, Environment Agency Abu Dhabi

2. Organizing Committee

•       Prof. Dr. Ahmed Bashir (EAD), (Chair)
•       Prof. Dr. Faisal Taha (ICBA)
•       Mr. Abdulnasser Al Shamsi (EAD)
•       Dr. Mohamed Dawood (EAD)
•       Dr. Mahmoud A. Abdelfattah (EAD)
•       Alicia Jimenez Al Mutawa (EAD)
•       Laila Yousef Al Hassan

3. Scientific Committee

•          Prof. Dr. Faisal Taha (ICBA), (Chair)
•          Dr. Shabbir A. Shahid (ICBA)
•          Dr. Mahmoud A. Abdelfattah (EAD)
•          Dr. Michael Wilson (USDA)
•          Dr. S. Prathapar (Sultan Qaboos University, Oman)
•          Dr. Mohamed Al Mulla (Ministry of Environment and Water, UAE)
•          Dr. Bill Porter (Department of Agriculture, Western Australia)
•          Prof. Mahmoud Shendi (Fayoum University, Egypt)
•          Dr. Taoufik Ksiksi (UAE University)