Ecosystem restoration capacity development workshop kicks off

A three-day workshop is taking place in pilot areas across Çanakkale and Balıkesir provinces to promote the ecosystem restoration concept. The “Ecosystem Restoration Capacity Development Workshop”, organized jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, features experts from the General Directorate of Forestry, the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, the General Directorate of Combating Desertification and Erosion, civil society organizations, and FAO.

The workshop aims to familiarize all participants with the concept of ecosystem restoration and to highlight the differences and similarities between the restoration approach and extensive rehabilitation practices currently implemented in Türkiye – such as natural and artificial regeneration, afforestation, soil conservation, and erosion control. The workshop aims to elevate these activities to the level of ecosystem restoration, which seeks to restore ecosystems’ past biological diversity and ecological functions, thereby enhancing national capacity in this field.

The overall objective of the workshop is to strengthen national capacity to adapt international restoration techniques for the rehabilitation of degraded forest ecosystems in the Kaz Mountains region and across Türkiye. In this context, representatives from 30 regional forestry directorates, as well as relevant public institutions and civil society organizations, were invited to participate.

In a speech given at the opening of the workshop on 3 November, Ayşegül Selışık, Assistant Representative of FAO Türkiye, emphasized that ecosystem restoration is not only an environmental process but also a social and economic transformation. She stressed that healing nature can only be achieved through humans living in harmony with the natural world. Selışık also stated that FAO’s global ecosystem restoration initiatives are strongly aligned with the projects implemented in Türkiye, stressing that preserving the biodiversity of the Kaz Mountains Region is not only a regional but also a national priority.

Elaborating further, she noted that the concepts of rehabilitation and restoration are often confused, although ecosystem restoration requires a much broader and more holistic approach. Highlighting the importance of this workshop in promoting such awareness, Selışık said: “Türkiye is a leading example in its region with rich forest resources and strong environmental management capacity. At FAO, our goal is to further strengthen this potential and to promote nature-based solutions.” Concluding her speech, Selışık drew attention to the need for collective action against global threats such as deforestation, climate change and biodiversity loss, encapsulating her point by stating: “Restoring nature is, in fact, restoring our future”.

Muhammed Salih Çetiner, Deputy Director General of Forestry at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, emphasized the strategic importance of preserving the rich biodiversity of the Kaz Mountains Region for the environmental future of Türkiye. He explained that ecosystem restoration is not only about returning nature to its previous state, but also a matter of re-establishing a balance between humans and nature. Çetiner further noted that threats such as climate change, drought and desertification are exerting significant pressure on forest ecosystems, highlighting the need for strong inter-institutional coordination and knowledge sharing to address these challenges effectively.

He continued by explained that afforestation, soil conservation, natural regeneration and rehabilitation activities carried out by the General Directorate of Forestry in recent years provide a solid foundation for ecosystem restoration efforts, with Türkiye’s forestry sector having achieved global standards in technology and knowledge infrastructure, ranging from forest fire management to innovative monitoring systems.

He finished by stressing that the multi-stakeholder structure of the Kaz Mountains Project brings together local communities, cooperatives and civil society organizations, making a valuable contribution to regional development and sustainable forest management.

In his presentation, Erdoğan Ertürk, FAO Project Coordinator emphasized that the Kaz Mountains Project adopts a holistic approach aimed at conserving biodiversity, promoting the sustainable management of forest ecosystems and enhancing the livelihoods of local communities.

He further explained that degraded forest areas within the project sites will be revitalized through ecosystem restoration strategies, while activities such as organic farming, beekeeping, and the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants will help strengthen the economic resilience of local cooperatives and farmers. Ertürk also stated that ongoing work on the identification of Natura 2000 sites, the monitoring of protected areas and the development of a sustainable tourism strategy will link regional development with environmental sustainability.

Valentina Garavaglia, FAO Natural Resources Management Specialist, gave the final set of opening remarks, highlighting the fact that ecosystem restoration is not merely an environmental intervention but a comprehensive solution for human well-being, climate resilience and biodiversity conservation. She stressed the importance of combining local knowledge with scientific approaches in the planning, implementation and monitoring of forest and landscape restoration efforts. Sharing examples from FAO’s global restoration initiatives, Garavaglia noted that Türkiye, with its strong institutional capacity, presents a valuable regional model for effective ecosystem restoration practices.

The workshop continued with presentations from FAO ecosystem restoration experts and national specialists, and will run until 5 November 2025. The three-day event forms part of the FAO project “Strengthening the Conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Management of Forest Landscapes in Türkiye’s Kazdaglari Region”.

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