Bio-diversity

Turkey, a land rich in climatic and topographic variations where 3 biogeographical regions namely Eurosiberian, Mediterranean and Iran-Turan regions meet, shows an abundance of flora. Forest ecosystems incorporate a variety of habitats due to varying tree populations; some of these habitats being rather rare and specific to Turkey are included into endangered species as per Bern Convention. On the other hand, harms associated with recreation activities in such areas are not fully discussed in studies concerned with conservation of these assets. This project on F rt na Valley, one of the 9 hotspots of Turkey, is aimed at rare and rapidly declining Common Box or European Box (Buxus sempervirens) trees found in pure stands within the area endangered by various investments, overuse and diseases. Project is in accordance with SGP`s priority areas 3 (sustainable livelihood and implementation in areas without protection status) and 5 (endangered priority specie). The study aims at i) aiding the formation of public awareness to provide for conservation and continuation of their habitats and ecosystems at their original location; ii) determining the factors that threaten their existence, including conservation measures into forest management plans and ensuring the conservation of the selected individuals together with a specified area, at the least, through appropriate protection measures. In this context, the project envisages to carry out i) collection of relevant information and documentation, ii) in situ inspection, documentation, data collection on working area and common box individuals as well as determination of biking routes, iii) working meeting or workshops with concerned people, preparation of various publishing media and realization of publishing, iv) informative meetings aimed at targeted relevant public both at local level and at working headquarters, and v) informing relevant authorities on conservation status and proposals. The target audience is determined as the people living in working areas and their organizations, local managers, area managers and technicians, managers and employees of public institutions of interest, researchers, and general public including related civil society and democratic mass organizations.

Turkey