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National Committee in Turkey for the International Year of Mountains (2002)

The National Committee for the International Year of Mountains in Turkey was comprised of the following representatives:

Government

Ministry of the Environment
Ministry of Tourism
Ministry of Culture
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Higher Education Board

NGOs

The Society for the Protection of Nature (DHKD)
The Turkish Foundation for Combating Erosion, Reforestation and Protection of Natural Habitats (TEMA)

UN

FAO Representation in Turkey

Civil Society

The Mountaineering Federation

The National Focal Point and coordinator for the International Year of Mountains was the Ministry of Forestry.

A Web site was set up for the Year under the Ministry of Forestry home page: www.orman.gov.tr (in Turkish and English). This site is still open and regularly updated.

Activities and Achievements during International Year of Mountains

International:

First International Mountaineering Camp in Sütdonduran and climb of Argaeus (Erciyes).

Interregional:

The groundwork was laid for collaboration on an interregional watershed management training programme (see below).

National:

A symposium on 'Mountains of Turkey: Mountain resources, mountain communities and sustainable devlopment potential', was held in Bursa (25-27 June). The conference helped to focus national attention on the need for a National Mountain Programme and a National Mountain Policy. The aim was to provide an overall evaluation of mountain resources (biological, ecological, cultural and economic) and how these need to be protected and managed in the future. Emphasis was placed on the need to raise awareness of these issues through the country and to take measures against uncontrolled tourism initiatives.

An International Year of Mountains Memorial Forest was established near Ankara - one of many such memorial forests created in mountain regions of Turkey.

A number of projects related to ecological and biological studies and the protection of nature resources were launched - including 15 subject-specific activities, such as the establishment of the memorial forest, and the implementation of pilot projects in mountain areas.

Various pilot projects were launched by research institutes, ministries and ngo's during the Year and these will continue in years to come, covering issues such as natural disasters risks and hazards, atmospheric pollution in mountain forests, mountain flora and fauna, mountain ecosystems and mountain management, awareness raising on biodiversity and environment, rangeland management and planning.

Educational:

Exhibitions and lectures, drawing and essay competitions were held in schools and brochures, posters and stickers were distributed.

Civil society initiatives:

A number of hikes, mountain walks and climbing events were organzed to mark the Year, including a series of ten climbs in ten different mountain regions of Turkey, each in the name of a former Turkish president, with international participants.

A series of activities were organized to introduce citizens to the social and economic aspects of mountain living. These projects aimed to improve living conditions of mountain dwellers, help establish small scale enterprises, encourage marketing of handicrafts and eco-farming and eco-tourism.

Promotional activities:

Poster, brochures, stickers and booklets were distributed throughout the country, and National Lottery tickets bore the International Year of Mountains logo.

The International Year of Mountains received extensive media coverage and films with mountain themes were shown throughout the year. Commemorative postage stamps were also issued.

New legislation:

The Ministry of Forestry Review pledged to prepare a programme for the designation of new areas within the protected areas system.

Beyond the International Year of Mountains (2002)

The International Year of Mountains in Turkey was very successful and proved a springboard for more long-term action in the sphere of sustainable mountain development.

The Government of Turkey recognized the need to develop a programme and strategy for sustainable mountain development within an insitutional framework, and the National Committee has remained operational as agency responsible for mountain development issues at national level. The Ministry of Environment has launched an action plan for sustainable mountain development with the support of the Ministry of Forestry. All related institutions, agencies and NGOs are involved in this study beyond 2002. The intention is also to develop the strengths of research fields and mountain-related subjects.

In terms of interregional collaboration, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kygyzstan and Turkey are now embarking on a regional watershed management training project to build capacity to manage watersheds effectively.
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