İZMİR METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY
Conference on Tackling Drought and Conserving Wetlands Held in İzmir
Date: 3-4 October 2024
Time: 10:00-18:00 (09:00-17:00 European Central Time Zone)
Within the scope of the “Sustainable Urban Future Project through Drought Management and Wetland Conservation” Project supported under the Town Twinning-II (Green Future Town Twinning) Program between Turkey and the EU with grant number TR2020/DG/01/A2-01/068, a conference and field studies on Tackling Drought and Wetland Conservation were held in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, from September 5-6, 2024. Following these events, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, Doga Dernegi, S.S. Izmir Agricultural Development Cooperatives Union (Köy-KOOP) Izmir Birligi, DOPPS-BirdLife Slovenia, Ljubljana Municipality, and the Ljubljana Urban Region Development Agency (RRA-LUR) gathered in Izmir on October 3-4, 2024, to develop measures against drought and to work on wetland conservation.
On the first day of the meeting, experts exchanged ideas on the importance of İzmir’s wetlands, ongoing efforts in the Gediz Delta, drought scenarios, and possible countermeasures. In various sessions, academics, local government, and civil society representatives shared experiences on combating drought in urban environments, national challenges in wetland conservation, and crop selection for sustainable livestock farming in rural areas. The program continued with the Challenges and Solutions for Tackling Drought and Conserving Wetlands Panel.
On the second day, a field study and bird-watching activity were conducted in the southern part of the Gediz Delta and Çiğli coastal marshes. This was followed by a briefing on the ongoing studies in the Gediz Delta conducted by Turkey’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the International Agricultural Research and Training Center (UTAEM).
The exchange of experiences between the two cities will contribute to the development of an action plan for adapting to drought and conserving wetlands, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
Conference on CombatIng Drought and ProtectIon of Wetlands
Date: 3 October 2024
Time: 08:30 – 16:30
Location: Ahmet Adnan Saygun Art Center – Small Hall
Town Twinning-II Between Turkey and the EU (City Twinning for a Green Future) (TTGS-II) Grant Program provided by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Agricultural Services Department, within the scope of “Sustainable Urban Future Project through Drought Management and Wetland Protection”, on 3 October 2024, 08 “Conference on Combating Drought and Protection of Wetlands” will be held at Ahmet Adnan Saygun Art Center (AASSM) Small Hall between 30-16:30.
Then, the “Gediz Delta Wetland Field Visit” will be held between 08:30-15:30 on October 4, 2024, during the conference hours.
We would be happy to welcome all interested parties to this important event!
KIck-Off MeetIng
Date: 28 March 2024
Time: 11:00-13:00
Supported by Grant TR2020/DG/01/A2-01, the “Sustainable Urban Future Project through Drought Management and Wetland Conservation” is part of the Town Twining-II (Twining for Green Future) Grant Program between Turkey and the EU. The project aims to establish a climate bridge between İzmir and the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana. In this context, expert visits on drought will be conducted in both cities, and a joint “Action Plan for Drought and Wetland Conservation” will be prepared.
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, Nature Association, Agricultural Development Cooperative Union of İzmir and other Agricultural Cooperatives, Municipality of Ljubljana, Ljubljana Urban Region Development Agency, and DOPPS-Bird Life Slovenia experts aim to raise public awareness, especially among those working in the agricultural sector, by creating a pilot area in the Gediz Delta.
The Project Kick-off Meeting was held as an online meeting on March 28, 2024, with the participation of all partners. Processes related to the project, field studies, and dissemination activities were evaluated.
BIrd WatchIng Walk on World Water Day, March 22nd
Supported by the TR2020/DG/01/A2-01 European Union Grant, the “Sustainable Urban Future Project through Drought Management and Wetland Conservation” aims to establish a climate bridge between Izmir and the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, within the framework of the City Pairing-II (City Pairing for Green Future) Grant Program between Turkey and the EU. As part of this initiative, a Bird Watching Walk was organized on March 22, World Water Day, in Izmir’s Gediz Delta, one of the project’s implementation areas, with the participation of 31 individuals led by experts from the Nature Association, a project partner.
The significance of the Gediz Delta, the stress that climate change imposes on freshwater resources, the importance of wetlands, and the interrelationship between freshwater and wetlands were explained to the participants. Birds arriving with the spring migration in the Gediz Delta and those that have begun breeding were observed through telescopes and binoculars.
The creation of an Action Plan for the Conservation of Drought and Wetlands will be the focus of the study, with RAMSAR Area and UNESCO World Natural Heritage Candidate Gediz Delta as the focal point of the work.
