The 1st Project Steering Committee meeting for the "Ecosystem Services for Social Cohesion in the Istanbul Regional Directorate of Forestry" Project, carried out in cooperation with the Istanbul Regional Directorate of Forestry, Nature Conservation Centre Foundation, and IUCN Urban Alliance under the European Union's Climate Change Adaptation Grant Programme, was held on March 19, 2024, at the Istanbul Regional Directorate of Forestry.
The meeting was attended by 12 people representing project partners and associates, including Celal Pir, Istanbul Regional Director of Forestry, Mahmut Ferhatoğlu, Ecosystem Services Branch Manager and relevant branches, as well as Galip Çağatay Tufanoğlu, Deputy Head of the Ecosystem Services Department of the General Directorate of Forestry, and Ahmet Şekercan, Ecosystem Services Assessment Branch Manager, Veli Altuntaş, Istanbul Forest Management Director, along with Yıldıray Lise, Deputy General Manager of the Nature Conservation Centre, and the project team. In the opening speech of the meeting, the importance of this project, which contributes to developing the adaptation capacity of forest ecosystems, was touched upon in terms of social cohesion, and the importance of disseminating the knowledge to be obtained within the scope of this project was emphasized.
Following the opening speech, an informative presentation regarding the project's purpose, importance, and activities was made. The project's 3 main activity areas; development of a climate change adaptation strategy, increasing social resilience, and increasing the institutional capacity of central and local governments, along with related goals and activities, and the project timeline for events planned for the next three months were shared with participants and presented for opinions. The meeting concluded with the discussion of expectations and suggestions.
The project aims to promote the effective use of ecosystem services through climate change adaptation and nature-based solutions in a forest area of 630,000 hectares, covering the provinces of Istanbul, Edirne, Kırklareli, and Tekirdağ. This approach aims to increase social resilience in this region housing 18 million people and ensure the sustainable use of ecosystem services. While the initiation of three pilot applications is expected to reveal the concrete results and impacts of the project, these initiatives will also serve as examples for similar applications throughout Turkey. This innovative project offers a strategic approach towards developing social cohesion and environmental resilience, while aiming to strengthen the capacities of local and central governments and raise awareness on climate change adaptation issues. In this aspect, the project has the potential to create a worldwide model for metropolitan areas.
