Natura 2000 stakeholder involvement in Turkey's forests

Abstract

Participation of local stakeholders is very important in selection and creation of Natura 2000 areas. There is not a standard procedure that has been developed by the EU in this respect. This study primarily aims to establish the characteristics related to potential participation of stakeholders in Natura 2000 practices in Turkey. A project has been created that looks into the applicability of the Natura 2000 concept in the forest areas in Turkey. To this end, two different forest sub-district directorates in Karabuk and Yenice in the Western Black Sea region have been selected as sample research areas. The locals of the areas in this project have been considered as the primary actors in participation of stakeholders to ensure civil society dialogue in the project. Information meetings and a workshop have been held to ensure civil society dialogue. The participants took a survey at the workshop, where the results of the project were announced. It has been established that the revenues from forestry via forestry cooperatives in villages has significant importance. Potential Natura 2000 areas and their protection methods have been created to spatially materialise the impact of project outcomes on the locals. The village headmen were consulted for their opinions on these areas. As a result of the evaluation of the surveys that were taken at the end of the workshop, it has been understood that the disposition of the village headmen was positively changed as compared to the beginning of the project. It has been stressed that there are different characteristics of participation from various stakeholders across EU countries, with regard to ownership and management of forest areas in Turkey.