The Turkish National Forestry Programme is a national programme with a cross-sectoral approach. The timeframe of the Forestry Programme is 20 years between 2004 and 2023. The main objective of the Programme is to ensure sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem preservation and efficient use of forest resources, with the participation of local community, non-governmental organizations, private sector, local administrations, universities, the forestry sector, forestry experts, forest villagers and other governmental agencies etc. Afforestation will be conducted with the biodiversity conservation approach by giving priority on planting native trees as well as forest rehabilitation. The protection of wild flora and fauna will be taken into consideration during afforestation. Legislative regulations will be issued to ensure participation of forest villagers in decision-making processes related to the management of forest resources and conservation, development and use of forest. The livelihoods of the forest villagers will be ensured by increasing forest productivity through the development of functional and participatory management of forests. This National Forestry Programme stresses on creating mechanisms and organizational capacities for forestry sector in developing politics and strategies; management and protection of forests, strengthening the consciousness and interest in the public to forestry and its protection, as well as supporting forestry workers and villagers. The strategies for the forest conservation is (i) protection of forest land, (ii) return of the 2B areas (forest lands which are no longer classified as forest lands due to degradation) to private ownership, (iii) biodiversity conservation, (iv) in-situ and ex-situ conservation of forest and wildlife genetic resources, (v) wildlife conservation, (vi) inventory of forest resources, (vii) enhancement of technical cooperation and capacity building in the field of forest management with special focus on biotic and abiotic factors in forest ecosystem. In order to expand forest lands, public lands will be allocated for afforestation to private sector, local people, local authorities and relevant organizations. Forest inventory will be made for resource assessment of forest products. Forest villagers will be trained on production, processing and marketing of non-timber products. Certification system of forest products will be improved in consideration of the national and international developments. R&D will be conducted to gather information about the importance and the potential of sociocultural services’ contribution to the sustainable development of Turkey. In order to combat desertification and erosion, forest lands will be expanded and pastures will be improved. Public awareness will be raised regarding ecological services that forests provide, such as soil conservation, protection and enhancement of water resources, prevention of desertification, erosion and other natural disasters, air quality, carbon storage etc.
تركيا · 2004-10-21