Panel 2: Civil Society Dialogue Stories
Environment, Nature and Biodiversity

PARTICIPATORY RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT

PROJECT DETAILS

Coordinator Beneficiary: TEMA Foundation / Turkey

Co-beneficiary(s): Bureau Européen De L’envıronnement / Belgium, Zelena Akcija – Friends of the Earth Crotia / Croatia

Project Duration: 15 months

Amount Granted / Project Budget: EUR 177,731.32 / EUR 197,479.24

GOAL OF THE PROJECT:

This project was implemented to increase the local community’s and CSOs’ capacity for preserving water, to strengthen their participation in the River Basin Management Plan, and to improve the dialogue between local/national public institutions and local stakeholders.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROJECT:

• CSOs were provided with training on “river basin management plan.”
• Webinars were held.
• A study visit was held to a river basin near Zagreb.
• Expertise transfer report was prepared by Zelena Akcija/ Friends of the Earth Croatia.
• Water dialogue meetings were held with public officials and CSOs.
• Water workshops were held at TEMA Field Coordination Meeting in Istanbul.

“Through the project activities, we believe that we contributed to raising awareness among CSOs on getting involved in the process of protecting and managing the water assets which concern the entire community. Additionally, we gathered the policy makers related to CSOs together, and found out that we could be involved in river basin management in our relevant region as CSO representatives. We see that local governments, relevant CSOs, and relevant public institutions interacting with each other as a positive reflection of the project activities.”

TEMA Foundation

ANCIENT CITIES FOR ENDEMIC FLORA, FROM APOLLO TO ATHENA

PROJECT DETAILS

Coordinator Beneficiary: Association for the Conservation of Orchids and Biodiversity/ Antalya, Turkey

Co-beneficiary(s): Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature / Greece

Project Duration: 15 months

Amount Granted / Project Budget: EUR 129,959.31 / EUR 146,979.54

GOAL OF THE PROJECT:

This project was implemented to develop a joint methodology for monitoring and protecting the endangered endemic flower species in archaeological sites.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROJECT:

• Comparative analysis was conducted on policies and methodologies for management of endemic flower species in archaeological sites.
• Common methodologies were elaborated for monitoring flora species in archaeological sites.
• Common environmental policy codes and protocols were prepared.
• A network was created with all stakeholders involved in the process of management, preservation and conservation of archaeological sites.
• Environmental training material was designed and produced.
• Training sessions were organized for archaeologists, tourist guides, and other related stakeholders.
• A study visit to Greece was held.
• An art exhibition titled “Reflections from Endemic Flowers to Ancient Cities” was organized in Antalya, Turkey.

AREA OF ADAPTATION

“Nature lovers, CSOs working in preservation of nature, students, tourists, and ancient city visitors have benefitted from our project. Public institutions gathered together and joint working environments were established. Numerous nature lovers volunteered to participate in protection practices. We have observed that the information we provided to the visitors in the ancient cities about the endemic plants have attracted their interest in the cities. Many participants of the project have noticed the similarities between the two cultures and sincere relations have been established throughout the cooperation in Greece.”

Association for the Conservation of Orchids and Biodiversity, Antalya