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Committee on Mediterranean Forestry Questions - Silva Mediterranea

AFWC/EFC/NEFC Committee on Mediterranean Forestry Questions - Silva Mediterranea

Established in 1948, the Committee of Mediterranean Forestry Questions - Silva Mediterranea is the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) statutory body where the Mediterranean Member Countries of the European Forestry Commission (EFC), the Near East Forestry Commission (NEFRC) and the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission (AFWC) meet, share experiences and establish cooperative programmes.  

Its role is to insert Mediterranean forest questions into a participatory process, acting as a catalyst for their management, proposing related calls for action and addressing its five working groups’ activities on timely and emerging forest topics.  

Where there is need for research, the Committee established cooperative research networks on subjects identified during its sessions. It established five working groups on forest fires, cork oak and non-timber forest products, forest genetic resources, urban and peri-urban forestry, and the desertification and restoration of Mediterranean drylands. 

The Silva Mediterranea Chair  

Mr Ümit Turhan 

Mr Turhan graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in forest engineering from Istanbul University and holds a Master of Business Administration degree. Mr Turhan also took part in several programmes, including Executive Education in Forestry from Yale University, Sustainable Development-Tools for Solutions from Lund University and the EU Educational Program from Ankara University. Before joining the General Directorate of Forestry of Turkey (OGM), Turhan spent two years in the private sector working in the wood industry. Having almost 25 years of experience in forestry, he has been in different management positions in many functional areas of OGM. Following his practical experiences in the field as a Forestry Chief between 1996 and 2004, in his current position he is responsible for the international relationships of OGM with the European Union and all other international organizations, as well as carrying out several forestry projects with FAO as a designated Contract Manager. Finally, Turhan is also the focal point of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on behalf of OGM, and OGM's Team Leader of the land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) working group.