PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT IN TURKEY REPUBLIC OF TURKEY MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTRY

1. PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT IN TURKEY REPUBLIC OF TURKEY MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTRY GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF NATURE CONSERVATION AND NATIONAL PARKS Prepared by, Erdogan ERTURK Forest Engineer (MSc)

2. Biological Diversity in Turkey • Diverse habitat types, ranging from coastal to Alphine • Agricultural species, their wild variants, commercially important forest species, medicinal and aromatic plants • 75% of the total 12.000 plant species which are found in the whole Europe is found in Turkey.Turkey has also 3.000 endemic plant species, which forms 1/3 of this flora • Due to the location among Europe, Asia and Africa, surrounding of the three sides with different ecological seas, high attitude differences such as 5.000 meters above sea level;132 mammal, 453 bird, 106 reptiles and 345 fish species live in Turkey.

3. Biological Diversity in Turkey • The wetlands of Turkey has a vital importance for most of the immigrant birds and it is also the breeding area for most of the water birds. Two main migration routes of Western Paleo arctic Region are located in Turkey

4. ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE MINISTER UNDERSECRETARY DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF NATURE CONSERVATION AND NATIONAL PARKS DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL PARKS DEPARTMENT OF NATURE CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT OF HUNTING AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT OF RECRATION AREAS PROVINCIAL DIRECTORATES

5. PROTECTED AREAS IN TURKEY

6. Protected Areas (ha) : 4,1 million (5.3 % of country’s total land area)

7. Pressures and Threats in Protected Areas Illegal logging Conversion Land degradation Grazing/Overgrazing Illegal hunting/fishing Uncontrolled Tourism Pollution and waste Semi-natural processes (e.g. fire) Cross-boundary issues Alien/invasive species Excavation of historical sites

11. Legislative Framework for Biodiversity and Nature Conservation in Turkey • -National Parks Law (1983) • -Decree on Specially Protected Areas (1988) • -Law on Protection of Natural and Cultural Assessments (1983) • -Law on Environment (1983) • -Regulation on Wetland Protection (2002) • -Terrestrial Hunting Law (1937-Renewed 2003) • -Aquatic Products Law (1971) • -Forestry Law (1956)

12. International Conventions and Protocols on Nature Protection Ratified by Turkey • Convention on Biodiversity Conservation(Rio Convention) (1997) • Cartagena Protocol (2004) • CITES (1996) • Barcelona Convention (1988) • Bucharest Convention (1994) • Protection of Cultural and National Heritage (1983) • Convention on Combating Erosion (1998) • European Landscape Convention (2000) • Bern Convention(1984) • Ramsar Convention (1994) • Kyoto Protocol (2009)

13. PROJECTSEXECUTED BY GENERAL DIRECTORATE

14. Biodiversity and natural resources management(Supported by Global Environment Facility and World Bank) The Project Objectives: To establish effective, inter-sectoral, participatory planning and sustainable management of protected areas and natural resources at four selected biodiversity conservation demonstration sites, To build capacity at the national level to facilitate replication of these activities at priority conservation sites throughout Turkey.

15. Strengthening of forest protected areas management(Supported by Global Environment Facility and UNDP) The Project Objectives: To enhance coverage and management effectiveness of the Forest Protected Areas (FPAs) through demonstrating cost-effective approaches for effective conservation and sustainable resource management at Küre Mountains National Park To take initial steps towards the replication of this model at the remaining eight forest hot spots.

16. Communication strategy and ecological impact assessment for natura 2000 implementation(Supported by European Union) The Project Objectives: Establishing the communication strategy for Natura 2000 and harmonization of Habitat Directives in the assessment of impacts of the investments on protected areas.

17. Conservation and sustainable use of wetlands in Turkey as a contribution to climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation (Supported by Ministry of Environment, Nature and Nuclear Security of Germany and GTZ) The Project Objectives: To contributesto raise awareness for the potential of sustainable use of protected sites esp. wetlands among potential users and other stakeholders To prepare a basement to wetland management plans which will be implemented in the pilot areas.

18. Further Development of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP)(Supported by Global Environment Facility and UNEP) The Project Objectives: To undertake the consultations necessary for the preparation of Second and Third National Reports to the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity To better incorporate the decisions and work programmes of the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity into the National Biodiversity Action Plan prior to its official submission to the CBD Secretariat

19. Protection and Sustainable Development of Natural Resources and Biodiversity in the Yıldız Mountains in Turkey (Supported by European Union) The Project Objectives: To serve the long term and large scale protection of biodiversity of Yıldız Mountains (Istranca forest) on the Turkish side of the region by carrying out inventories and mapping, designing zonation, developing management plans and implementing management within the established UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve

20. Thank you… Erdoğan Ertürk Forest Engineer (MSc.) Ministry of Environment and Forestry General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Park E-Mail: erdoganerturk@yahoo.com Mobile Phone:+90 532 7014545 Phone:+90 31202075883 Fax:+90 312 5075959