Academic Staff

June 1, 2026, 10:51 a.m.
Honar Safar Mahdi (Master)
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor in Biodiversity conservation & Ecosystem management

Environment and Ecotourism
College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences
University of Duhok

Master's degree in Biodiversity conservation & Ecosystem management (2013), University of Newcastle, United Kingdom

Bachelor's degree in Forest Sciences (2009), College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

11 years of teaching experience in different subjects:

  1. Biodiversity and Conservation
  2. ⁠Environmental science
  3. ⁠Agroecology
  4. ⁠Ecological Surveying
  5. ⁠Environmental Impact Assessment

Conference Participation & Certificates

  • Certificate of Attendance, 2nd Scientific Agricultural Conference, College of Agriculture, University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — 26 April 2016.
  • Participant, International Conference on Juniper Trees, held from 25–27 September 2017, organized by Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Écologie (IMBE), UMR 7263 CNRS – IRD 237, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France.
  • Certificate of Attendance, 2nd Scientific Agricultural Conference, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — 2–3 October 2019.
  • Certificate of Attendance, 1st Scientific Agricultural Conference, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Salahaddin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — 6–7 November 2019.
  • Certificate of Attendance, Online conference of the 5th World Forum for Women in Science Without Borders, held at the University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq — 8–10 March 2021.
  • Certificate of giving seminar and attendance, international cooperative Conference of modern agricultural technologies, University of Anbar and University of Salahaddin, Erbil. Iraq - 2021
  • Certificate of Attendance, 4th Scientific Agricultural Conference, College of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Mosul, Iraq — 2023.
  • Certificate of Attendance and Preparation Committee Member, Northern Iraq Buy-in International Conference (2023), held at the University of Duhok – Conference Center, Duhok City, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The conference was supported by USAID and LASER PULSE, in partnership with Purdue University, Indiana University, and Notre Dame University.
  • Certificate of Attendance and Preparation Committee Member, Final Dissemination Conference of the Support to Traditional Cultural Practices in Northern Iraq Project, including the Opening Ceremony of the UoD Botanical Garden, titled “Restoring Cultural and Agricultural Landscapes: Post-Conflict Recovery for Minority Groups in Northern Iraq. University of Duhok, Iraq – 2024.

Some other activities

  • Certificate of Attendance, Professional Development Training on Introduction to Grass Identification, Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), United Kingdom — 23 May 2013.
  • Certificate of Appreciation, for delivering a seminar titled “The Importance of Trees and Plants in Parks”, in collaboration with Rwanga Organization. (Year not specified).
  • Certificate of Service, Annual Garden Competition in Refugee and IDP Camps, Lemon Tree Trust — served as a judge for selecting the best gardens, 16–24 May 2018.
  • Lecturer, Pocket Community Gardens Project, Society and Environment Friends (SEF), Domiz Camp, Duhok, Kurdistan, Iraq — conducted December 2020
  • Trainer, Environmental Media Course, conducted in Duhok City for multiple media personnel, organized by Rwanga NGO — 2021.
  • Trainer, Support for Cultural Restoration in Northern Iraq, delivered training in Hamdaniya, Tel Kaif, and Bashiqa Districts — 35 weeks, 2022.
  • Trainer, Support for Cultural Restoration in Northern Iraq, delivered training in Hamdaniya, Tel Kaif, and Bashiqa Districts — 15 weeks, 2023.
  • Certificate of Completion, NGBB Herbarium Management and Digitisation Training Course, successfully completed — held in Istanbul, Turkey, 18–21 January 2023.

Workshops

  • International workshop, Community Building in Ninewa Governorate, a two-week program in Agricultural Extension & Social Science conducted by Indiana University, University of Notre Dame, and Purdue University, USA, supported by LASER PULSE and USAID — 14–27 August 2022.
  • Workshop, Course Management and Student Academic Records for Departments Implementing Bologna Process, University of Duhok — 2021.
  • International workshop, Northern Iraq Buy-in Workshop: Sharing Knowledge, Sharing Solutions — Traditional Cultural Practices and the Restoration of Social–Ecological Systems in the Ninewa Plains, with USAID, Laser Pulse and partners from Purdue, Indiana and Notre dame Universities, University of Duhok, Duhok City, KRG, Iraq — 2022.
  • International Workshop, Northern Iraq Buy-in: Support to Traditional Cultural Practices in Northern Iraq Project, with partners from Indiana University, USA, held at the University of Duhok, Duhok City, KRG, Iraq — 2023.
  • Workshop, Impacts of Climate Change on Field Crops Production, Field Crop Department, , College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Duhok – 2023
  • Workshop Participation & Seminar Presentation, Brown Bear Protection, held by Leopards Beyond Borders NGO, Duhok — 2023.
  • Workshop, Upgrading the Department of Recreation and Ecotourism, Recreation and Ecotourism, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Duhok — 2023.
  • International Workshop, Wild Plants, held in Istanbul, Turkey, in partnership with Indiana University, USA — 3–7 March 2024.

Research

  1. Wild orchids of the Kurdistan Region areas: a scientific window on the unexpected nature of the North-Western Zagros
  2. New contribution on Orchids (Orchidaceae) of Duhok Province in Kurdistan Region (N-Iraq)
  3. Effect of pre-sowing treatments on seed germination of P. eurycarpa and P. khinjuk–Kurdistan region
  4. Phytochemicals Analysis in Watercress (Nasturtium Officinale) Plant Extracts
  5. SEED GERMINATION ECOLOGY AND SEEDLING EMERGENCE OF SIXTEEN TREE SPECIES AUTUMN SOWN
  6. Two New Records of Orchid Species for the Flora of Iraq: Anacamptis papilionacea (L.) RM Bateman, Pridgeon & MW Chase and Dactylorhiza romana (Sebast.) Soó
  7. Phytochemical Analysis, Nutritional Value And Ethnobotanical Knowledge of Pelargonium Quercetorum Agnew (geraniaceae)
  8. Effect of pre-sowing treatments on seed germination and seedling emergence of celtis tournefortii lam.–kurdistan region of iraq
  9. RECREATIONAL USE VALUE OF SHERANA VALLEY IN DUHOK GOVERNORATE, KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ
  10. Groundwater quality assessment of Domiz refugee camp in Duhok governorate, Kurdistan region, Iraq.
  11. New contribution on the distribution of Orchids (Orchidaceae) in Erbil Province in Kurdistan Region (N-Iraq)
  12. TOWARDS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SITE-SPECIES-SPECIFIC TABLE FOR CARBON SEQUESTRATION OF Morus nigra And Salix alba IN DUHOK PROVINCE, KURDISTAN REGION
  13. Identifying the Plant Species and Soil Conditions That Deliver Carbon Capture on Urban Soils
  14. Assesment of building 10 turbine wind farm in a Cumbria County and try to “green up” its image with the long-term aim of becoming a carbon neutral council.
  15. The most common silvicultural systems that are currently used in commercial forestry in Britain and their impacts on wildlife conservation, biodiversity and environmental …
  16. Preservation plan for Studland and Godlingston heaths in Dorset
  17. A Comparison of different Management Regimes on Ancient Woodland in Pontburn Woods, Tyne and Wear
  18. Describe the most common silvicultural systems that are currently used in commercial forestry in Britain and critically assess their impacts on wildlife conservation …

  1. Biodiversity.
  2. Agroecology.
  3. Environmental Science.
  4. Medicinal plant.
  5. Ethnobotany.
  6. Environmental Impact assessment (EIA).