CEPF support enabled
Doğa Derneği to pursue its work in improving human resources for the conservation of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in the West Lesser Caucasus and enhancing the baseline information and scientific standards for the conservation of KBAs in the corridor having delivered strategic conservation outputs through trans-boundary cooperation between Turkey and Georgia.
Within this project concept, Doğa Derneği prepared a management plan for Posof Wildlife Reserve that was adopted by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. The plan is the first of its kind for the Turkish Wildlife Reserves, which will be replicated in other reserves.
Eray Çağlayan, Project Officer, Doğa Derneği – Turkish Nature Association
What was the most important lesson learned?
Involvement of central and local governmental officers in project activities on the ground affects the results and increases the impact of action taken. This was something that we did not presume would happen at the beginning of the project.
Describe how you learned this and whether / how you have adapted your approach or specific project elements as a result.
Turkish and Georgian ministry staff have been and are currently working very closely on gazelle breeding and re-introducing the species. While we were carrying out the project, we invited the local and government officers to participate in our activities, such as Nature School Trainings, field work, meetings and workshops. Also, we asked them to give speeches or make presentations, where possible, and relevant with the itinerary of the activity. Some participated and made presentations, some did not.
Just the mere act of receiving an invitation went a long way and was something they truly appreciated. They are the people who are responsible for the area’s wildlife and habitat, which we are trying to conserve in the region. So, inviting them and allowing them to talk about the issues at hand actually honored them.
This acknowledgement empowered them to own their work of conserving a site or a threatened species. We learned that when we follow up on research or pursue a particular issue - such as preparing a management plan or declaring a protected site – involving the pertinent government representatives helps us to make the process faster and more efficient.
Just before the end of this project, a management plan for Posof Wildlife Reserve was approved by the Turkish Ministry of Environment and Forestry. The Georgian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources is working on the delineation of a protected site that is located on the Turkish border to develop collaboration on cross-border nature conservation. Furthermore, both ministries are working on the re-introduction of gazelles into Georgia. Turkey has broad experience in captive breeding as well as in re-introducing gazelles and Anatolian mouflons. Finally, the ministry staff of both countries have built a positive, learning relationship and now exchange experiences on these types of issues independent from the project partners.
- Oct. 16, 2009
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