Short films were released describing the Mediterranean Integrated Forest Management Project implemented jointly by the General Directorate of Forestry and UNDP Turkey.

Integrating such important matters as eco-tourism and biodiversity into forest planning, and introducing innovative solutions to firefighting, the Mediterranean Integrated Forest Management Project concluded its 7 years successfully. A documentary series including five short films and a long one that presents the work under the project were released on various platforms.

What is Forest Management?

Mr. Tamer Ertürk, Department Chief for Tracking and Control at the General Directorate of Forestry defined Forest Arrangement Plans as “carrying a forest into future” and emphasised the importance of ecosystem-based plans relying on a deep understanding of forest composition.

“Human action is the top cause of fires”

Mr. İlhami Aydın, Deputy Head of Department of Combatting Forest Fires, described the novelties introduced by the Integrated Forest Management Project to firefighting. Mr. Aydin note that cameras installed at helicopters and water level sensors at water pools enabled swift and accurate decision-making, and they would continue their search for innovative solutions to firefighting.

“Nature is not the other”

Mr. Yıldıray Lise, Deputy Director of Nature Conservation Centre, emphasised that biodiversity was the life itself, and how the preservation of biodiversity was integrated into forest arrangement plans.

“Our country accounts for 90% of laurel exports in the world”

Mr. Zafer Filiz, Department Chief for Non-Wood Forest Products, explained the benefits of such non-wood products as laurel, oregano to the Turkish economy and forest villages, and noted that they were working to ensure sustainable use of such products.

“Eco-tourism: Tourism that does not harm the nature”

Mr. Alper Akgün, Department Chief for Eco-tourism, stated that the outstanding feature of eco-tourism was its sustainability, and called on all citizens to get to know forests and forest management.

Access the short films and project documentary at: http://bit.ly/entegreorman.