Integration of Hydrological Function into Forest Management Plans

Projected changes in annual (left) and summer (right) precipitation (%) between 1961-1990 and 2071-2100 as simulated by ENSEMBLES Regional Climate Models for the IPCC SRES A1B emission scenario.

Source: European Environment Agency http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/figures/projected-changes-in-annual-and-3

Relevance

Turkey’s Forest Coverage 27,6% of the country’s land area

In Europe, approximately 10 % of total forest area was designated for the protection of water.In Turkey below 3% of total forest area was designated for the protection of water.

Relevance

According to the National Climate Change Strategy of Turkey, at long term, it reads as follow:

• Forest lands and forestry activities, which are crucial for protection and management of water resources within the framework of sustainability principles, shall be planned and implemented based on upper basin management principles.

Relevance

Ownership & Cooperation• High level of ownership by the General Directorate of

Forestry,• Involvement of other relevant institutional organizations such

as State Hydraulic Works and General Directorate of Water Management to the project was provided, their inputs were reflected into the technical works.

Efficiency

Capacity Strengthen• The road map (technical reports of experts) for improving the

criteria and indicators for hydrological function was produced during the first phase of the project with a participatory way that has not ever happen before with other relevant General Directorates.

• Strong communication with European Environment Agency was established.

Effectiveness

Capacity Strengthen• Over the period of first phase 4 technical meeting / workshop,

two technical study visits and two steering committee meetings were held and over 230 people participated from different institutional organizations.

Effectiveness

Integration of Hydrological Function into Forest Management Plans

• Integration of hydrological function into forest management plans by the General Directorate of Forestry throughout country.

• Instructions on how to designate hydrological function in forest lands.

• Improved capacity of core ministerial staff on forest-water interaction.

Sustainability

• The project is a study case for European Environment Agency for the project called Water Retention Capacity of Forests in EU.

• The project can be replicated into Middle Asian and Balkan countries as GDF has strong communication in those countries.

Impact

National Climate Change Action Plan

• Forest sector is included in the National Climate Change Action Plan covering the period from 2011-2023. NCCAP produced and endorsed by the Turkish government in 2011.

Impact