Turkey

Ministry of Forestry (Government of Turkey) with FAO support.

The Project aimed at contributing to more effective protection, sustainable development and utilisation of forest and range resources through strengthening staff capabilities and institutional structure, introduction of improved approaches and creation of environmental awareness in the rural population as well as the general public. Project activities included various training courses; extension and field demonstrations; and, pilot institutional, policy and legislative studies and activities in three villages in forested areas, between 1992 and 1998. The project involved 1378 people in 219 households in the three villages, and covered 7,576 hectares of forests, agricultural and settlement areas, and rangelands.

Degraded forestry land was rehabilitated with village support. Villagers prepared terraces and new cherry, apple, pear and grape plantations. They also constructed water reservoirs and an irrigation system.

This initiative addressed two important issues: i) the need to consider the implications of individual farmer household activities in relation to participatory catchment planning, and ii) the crucial need for creation of immediate and alternative sources of income for villagers.

Sustainable development and use of forest and range resources.

• Development of Participatory Integrated National Resources Management models;

• Government staff and villager training to capitalise on knowledge, experiences and skills in community forestry and participatory approaches; and,

• Development of a flexible institutional framework, policies and legislation adapted to local conditions.

The most important lessons learned are that regardless of the land tenure system of the community, tree ownership is important. Furthermore, villagers in the forested areas generally prefer multi-purpose tree species.

In order to be successful in rehabilitating degraded forestlands, trees must be integrated with local farming systems so that they enhance and supplement, rather than supplant, traditional agricultural systems. This means that all activities must be potentially income generating in the long term in some way. Even more crucial is the stimulation of immediate income for villagers.

The members of these relatively isolated communities must largely depend upon themselves to improve their available resources and liquid assets, quality of life and local environment. At the same time, there was a need to coordinate individual activities to complement collective, participatory catchment planning. The use of appropriate "bottom-up" approaches to participatory development was found indispensable for success.

Substantial progress occurs if government and other external agencies create the appropriate conditions for communities to manage their own initiatives with assistance provided at their request and with their guidance.

Suade Arancli
Ministry of Forestry,
Ataturk Buluari no. 153,
06100 Bakanuliklac
Ankara, Turkey.
Tel. (+90) 312 4177769; Fax (+90) 312 4179160, Email: sarancli@yahoo.com