Istanbul Forests: Leaving a Green Future for Children

Istanbul forests function not only aesthetically and environmentally for the city but also like a school where children can meet nature and gain environmental awareness. In this sense, various forest areas in Istanbul offer great opportunities for nature education. Especially the training programs carried out within the scope of the project at Atatürk Arboretum allow children to explore nature more closely and contribute to their future environmental protection awareness.

Within the framework of cooperation with the Istanbul Regional Directorate of Forestry and various educational institutions, Atatürk Arboretum organizes activities that instill a love of nature in children. In these trainings, children not only discover the beauties of nature but also learn how ecosystems work and how vital forests are for the life around us. Through activities such as nature walks, plant identification activities, and animal tracking, children establish a closer bond with nature.

These trainings not only offer children the opportunity to get to know nature but also contribute to their upbringing as environmentally sensitive individuals. Ecosystem services provided by forests, issues like water conservation and improvement of air quality, are among the main teachings specifically emphasized in the trainings at Atatürk Arboretum. In this way, as children grow up intertwined with nature, they also step into the future with an awareness of sustainability and environmental protection. Another important aspect of nature education provided in Istanbul Forests is that it offers a practical education model aimed at teaching the value of nature to the city's children. These trainings instill environmental awareness not only in children but also in the families who introduce them to nature. Projects like the trainings given at Atatürk Arboretum ensure that an important step is taken towards raising future environmentally friendly and conscious generations.