Issue: 77
For those who are more fortunate, peace, is like a melody and song which enriches their souls and at the same time enables them to exercise and expand their choices freely.
For those who are not, it is a distant dream they cherish and aspire to realize; an assiduous struggle to emancipate themselves from the afflictions of death and disease, revenge and recrimination and disempowerment and deprivation.
It provides solace to those who consider it as a donation to needy people thousands of kilometers away from them; provides inspiration to those who proudly display it as a symbol on their t-shirts; and provides hope for a better future for the posterity in the lands where humanity joins hands to fight against tyranny and oppression.
For the United Nations, peace is a fulltime job. It is protecting civilians, overseeing elections, disarming ex-combatants, saving child-soldiers from war lords, contributing to post-conflict recovery and, more importantly, using wide array of diplomacy to prevent war.
Since 1945, the UN has assisted in negotiations for over 180 peace settlements that have ended regional conflicts.
And the UN, with its peacekeeping, peacemaking and peace building mechanisms, is going to places where others cannot or will not go.
Doing what others cannot or will not do. And, the UN, in many parts of the world, is actively engaged in waging peace at various levels and in various forms and manifestations.
Preventive diplomacy is one of the key tools the United Nations uses to triumph peace globally. Preventing the conflict before it turns into a crisis is critical.
We know that failure to prevent conflict is extremely costly and innocent civilians suffer the most. Figures also testify to this awful truth.
An estimated 90 per cent of global conflict-related deaths since 1990 have been civilians, and 80 per cent of these have been women and children.
Economic consequences of conflict are also severe. The World Bank has calculated that the average cost of conflict is equivalent to more than 30 years of gross domestic product (GDP) growth for a medium-size developing country.
Preventing conflicts
Preventive diplomacy has been an enduring idea at the United Nations for many decades. Recently, thanks to the efforts of the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and with the support of member states, the UN’s preventive diplomacy machinery has been improved and expanded.
Member states indeed place greater emphasis on conflict prevention and visualize a pro-active and key role for the United Nations in these efforts.
There are several reasons for this renewed interest. Foremost is the recurring and devastating impact of armed conflict on individuals, societies and economies.
Moreover, although quiet successes rarely make the news, a number of recent engagements have reconfirmed that through a combination of diagnostic analysis, early warning, rapid response and partnerships, the international community can help to defuse tensions in escalating crises and assist parties in resolving disputes peacefully.
The international community must continue to support national institutions and mechanisms for mediation, facilitation and dialogue and to assist the national entities at their request in building national systems for conflict prevention.
Including civil society organizations in preventive efforts is critical, especially women and youth who can lead the charge for peaceful change. And, the UN is developing solutions unique to every situation, to catalyze and act as an agent of change.
Those of us who are spared the most negative effects of disaster, poverty or instability, cannot turn a blind eye on the less fortunate. The cascading effects of abuse and indifference can eventually engulf all of humanity.
We in the UN firmly believe that better preventive diplomacy is not an option; it is indeed a necessity. Let us join forces to fully make our world a better place for all.
* Shahid Najam, UNDP Resident Representative in Turkey and UN Resident Coordinator in Turkey
“Küre Mountains National Park has declared as national park in 2000 by General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks. PAN Parks verification process, which has started in 2006, finalized with verification process carried out by international independent verifiers in 17 – 21 April 2012.
Verifiers evaluated PAN Parks preparation process in Küre Mountains National Park and appreciated the progress. They were impressed by Küre Mountains National Park’s wilderness, potential of sustainable tourism, and effective participation of local people and public institutions in conservation and sustainable tourism activities. At the end of this mission, verifiers submitted their positive report to the Board of PAN Parks Foundation. And in their first meeting held at 23 April 2012, the board approved the Küre Mountains National Park’s PAN Park certificate.
With the board approval, Küre Mountains National Park became the first in Turkey and 13th PAN Parks certificated protected area in Europe.
Global Environment Facility (GEF) supported “Enhancing Forest Protected Areas Management System in Turkey Project”, has been implemented in Küre Mountains National Park since 2008 under partnership of Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, General Directorate of Forestry, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Turkey Office and WWF Turkey.
What the PAN Parks are?
Protected Areas Network (PAN) Parks is a network of Protected Areas to protect Europe’s wilderness, the continent’s most undisturbed areas of nature. PAN Parks applies a truly integrated approach to mobilize sustainable tourism development for strengthening wilderness conservation.
PAN Parks quality standards have five main principles:
Principle 1 - Rich Natural Heritage: PAN Parks are large protected areas that are representative of Europe’s natural heritage and the international importance for wildlife and ecosystems, having at least 10.000 ha wilderness area.
Principle 2 - Nature Management: Design and management of the PAN Parks aims to maintain and, if necessary, restore the area’s natural ecological process anf its biodiversity with the action listed in a management plan.
Principle 3 - Visitor Management: Visitor management safeguards the natural values of the PAN Parks and aims to provide visitors with a high-quality experience under a visitor management plan.
Principle 4 - Sustainable Tourism Strategy: The protected area authority and its relevant partners in the PAN Parks region aim at achieving and synergy between nature conservation and Sustainable Tourism by developing and jointly implementing a Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy.
Principle 5 – Partnerships: The local business partners aim at offering high-quality tourism packages based on the appreciation of nature.
PAN Parks benefits for Turkey
• Küre Mountains National Park natural and cultural values will be well known and this will support the protection of park at global level.
• This will support creation of alternative livelihoods for local people living around the national park through sustainable tourism activities.
• Turkey’s international prestige on nature conservation sector will be increased.
• Küre Mountains National Park will be model for other protected areas in Turkey on nature conservation, national park and visitor management systems, and development of sustainable tourism activities around protected areas at international level.
• Protection of cultural values and traditional architecture will be more important.
• Local businesses will serve and prepared products under high quality standards.
• Incremental increase in international tourist numbers as a result of activities of international promotion and being a desired tourism destination.
Grynspan held meetings with Minister of Family and Social Policies, Ms. Fatma Şahin; Minister of Development, Mr. Cevdet Yılmaz; Minister of Environment and Urbanization, Mr. Erdoğan Bayraktar; and Turkish International Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA ) President, Mr. Serdar Çam.
Grynspan also answered the questions of Turkish journalists.
Following her visit to Ankara, Grynspan went to Istanbul to participate in the 12th AWID (Association for Women's Rights in Development) International Forum on Women's Right & Development.
Visit to Dreams Academy
As an addition to her heavy schedule, Grynspan had previously been a guest at Dreams Academy during her visit to Istanbul last March for the Global Human Development Forum.
This time, Grynspan paid a visit to the Dreams Academy building and was informed of the ongoing works. She also met with the students of the rhythm and ballet-jazz dance groups.
After a short meeting with the Dreams Academy team, Grynspan received information about the projects conducted by Ayder and Ayder-UNDP partnership.
In the context of Rio+20 Conference preparation process held in coordination of T.R. Ministry of Development and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a facilitator, successful practices of Turkey were selected with the support of Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Best Practices of the Country that will be presented at the Rio+20 Conference supporting “Sustainable Development” and “Green Growth” concepts were selected among the projects and programmes of companies from private sector, public institutions, universities and non-governmental organizations.
Deputy Minister of Development Mehmet Ceylan, President of the Business Council for Sustainable Development Galya Molinas and Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme Shahid Najam participated at the meeting where the best practices that will represent Turkey in Rio+20 Conference were announced.
Deputy Minister of Development Mehmet Ceylan emphasized the significance of putting forward the experience of Turkey on sustainable development at the global platform by these model practices.
Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Turkey Shahid Najam said that: “The Rio+20 Conference is now only 2 months away. In the draft of the Rio+20 outcome document (The Future We Want), the need to sharing experiences to facilitate countries’ sustainable development and green economy policy design and implementation, including good practices at regional, national and local levels was underlined. The major groups, particularly business and industry, were urged and called upon to share their experiences in this regard. Experiences provide us opportunities to generate knowledge, mature concepts, refine models and enlist lessons learned. It shows what worked and what did not. This sharing of experiences and Knowledge in the globalizing world is now important more than ever before. In this regard, the determination of the best practices that will represent Turkey in the Rio+20 Conference is so significant.”
President of the Business Council for Sustainable Development Galya Molinas emphasized that the Rio+20 Conference, which will raise the sustainability awareness and raise the recognition levels of the institutions in Turkey to a higher level, coincides with the mission of the Business Council for Sustainable Development. On behalf of the Business Council for Sustainable Development, she stated that they executed the selection process of the best practices on sustainable development comprehensively and evaluated 181 applications meticulously.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BEST PRACTICES OF TURKEY
(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
| PRIVATE SECTOR | |
| Application Owner | Application Topic |
| AKÇANSA | Energy Production Facility from Waste Heat |
| Anadolu Efes | Seed and production development, seed growing and agricultural support activities for the supply of malt barley and hop in the context of “Sustainable agriculture” |
| ARÇELİK | KAKTÜS Project |
| COCA COLA İçecek | Inventor Competition |
| Eczacıbaşı | Waste Heat Recovery Project |
| Ereğli Demir Çelik | Erdemir Environmental Management Process, Environmental Performance Index and Sustainability Activities |
| Ford OTOSAN | Sustainable environment-friendly automobile production |
| İÇDAŞ | Değirmencik Integrated Facility Sustainable Water Management Project |
| LIPESAA LTD. | Waste Plant Oil Collecting System |
| Şekerbank | ECOcredit – Energy and Labor Saving Credit |
| PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS | |
| Application Owner | Application Topic |
| T.R. Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology -General Directorate of Efficiency | Industrial Efficiency and Parallel Development of Environmental Performance for SMEs |
| T.R. Bursa Special Provincial Directorate | Clean Environment Project with Natural Treatment Facilities |
| T.R. Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources | Energy Efficiency Policies |
| Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality | Sustainable Management of Local Electronical Wastes in Istanbul |
| T.R. Konya Special Provincial Directorate | Rural Development by Organic Strawberry Production |
| T.R. Ministry of Forest and Water Affairs | Küre Mountains National Park “Strengthening Forest Protected Areas Management System in Turkey Project” |
| NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS | |
| Application Owner | Application Topic |
| ÇEVKO – Environmental Protection and Packaging Waste Recovery and Recycling Foundation | Establishing Sustainable Packaging Waste Recovery System with Industry, Local Government and Consumer Cooperation - ÇEVKO Model |
| WWF | Climate Change Adaptation in Konya Closed Basin by Efficient Use of Water |
| Greenpeace | Prevention of Fry Fishing |
| The Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and Protection of Natural Habitats (TEMA) | Kaçkar Mountains Sustainable Forest Protection Project |
| Technology Development Foundation of Turkey (TTGV) | “Eco-efficiency (Clean Production) Programme” conducted in the context of UN Joint Programme “Enhancing the Capacity of Turkey to Adapt to Climate Change” |
| ACADEMIA | |
| Application Owner | Application Topic |
| Boğaziçi University (Sustainable Development and Clean Production Center) | EstaEvaluation of the Practicability of Ecological Criteria to the Cotton Textile Products |
| Middle East Technical University | METU / Techno city Membrane Treatment Facility |
| Süleyman Demirel University | Biological Struggle Research, Practice, Production and Education Center |
Küre Mountains National Park award was given to Mr. Mustafa Akıncıoğlu who is the Deputy Director in Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Park. The award was presented by Mr. Mehmet Ceylan, Deputy Minister of Development, in a ceremony organized in Istanbul on 20 April 2012.
Awarded best practices include private sector, public institutions, NGOs and universities’ success stories. 25 best practices, awarded from 181 applications, will be a part of Turkey’s national report for Rio+20 Summit. These practices will be an important opportunity for presenting Turkey’s experience on these topics, and set examples of sustainable development for other countries.
Global Environment Facility (GEF) supported “Enhancing Forest Protected Areas Management System in Turkey Project”, has been implemented in Küre Mountains National Park since 2008 under partnership of Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, General Directorate of Forestry, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Turkey Office and WWF Turkey.
The project implemented in Küre Mountains National Park succeeded to set up a model for conservation of the national park and its buffer zone, as well as sustainable development and tourism, and green economy. This model became exemplary for other forest hotspots in Turkey and national protected areas network.
This award is an important step in dissemination of this experience in other countries by promoting Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs and project partners’ work in Küre Mountains National Park, and the national park itself at global level.
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“Küre Mountains National Park PAN Parks Group” first meeting was held on 31 March 2012 in Bartın Ulus to establish the group in order to meet requirements under PAN Parks last criterion “Criteria 5: Local Partnership”.
First meeting results are:
– Founder members that are representing Directorate of National Park and different districts of Mountains National Park buffer zone were assigned as Umman Dede (Director of National Park), İsmail Menteş (Representative of Pınarbaşı and Azdavay), Işıl Işık (Representative of Amasra and Kurucaşile), Galip Arslan (Representative of Ulus and Arıt) and Uğur Gürsoy (Representative of Cide and Şenpazar).
– PAN Parks Group duties, responsibilities and roles were specified and approved by Group members.
– Küre Mountains National Park Local Partnership Group quality standards were specified based on Eastern Black Sea Development Agency supported “Preparation of PAN Parks Site Guide of Küre Mountains National Park” project’s results.
– Local business partner potential list is prepared on specified quality standards.
– Decision made on to establish a working group of 7-10 people in each representative’s region.
Establishing local business partners aims to certify local business working under defined standards and to increase their cooperation with National Park Directorate.
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Under the sponsor of the Municipality of Eyüp, the Youth and Earth Festival featured One Day on Earth Motion Picture, a film comprised of videos sent by people from all around the world in one day, under the auspices of the UNDP.
“The “One Day on Earth” Project started off in 2008 with the aim of creating a time capsule of videos recorded in one day from all round the world.
People from all cultures, creeds, and nationalities were asked to record their human experiences over a 24-hour period and share them on onedayonearth.org. So far two media creation events have taken place, one on October 10, 2010 (10.10.10) and the other on November 11, 2011 (11.11.11), creating a free and open video map of moments from people’s lives from every corner of the world.
One Day on Earth is a project of the Creative Visions foundation 501(c)(3). Its partners include United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Women, UNAIDS, World Health Organization (WHO), CERN, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Red Cross Red Crescent (ICRC & IFRC), World Wildlife Fund for Nature, Water.org, World Bank, Human Rights Watch, US FUND for UNICEF and 350.org.
“One Day on Earth” motion picture film was created from the footage of over 3000 hours received from thousands of people on 10.10.10. The 2-hour film tells the story of the world as it is with all its tragedies and achievements while reflecting its striking diversity. In line with the projects objective, the film aims to bring people closer to one another as it combines their similarities and differences. By enabling people, who have participated in One Day on Earth, to continue cooperating in the future, the project is targeting to create a community fostered through communication.
From youngsters, who sent videos they recorded though their cell phones, to professional documentarians, men and women of all ages, countries, races and cultures, as well as over 60 NGOs, contributed to the film.
Some memorable scenes include a high-profile military parade in North Korea, views of Mecca and the Galapagos Islands, a scuba dive in the Red Sea and the 10th birthday party for a Dutch boy with a rare genetic disease and a life expectancy of ten years.
Directed by the project’s founder, Kyle Ruddick, and produced by Brandon Litman and his team, “One Day on Earth”s global screening was held last Earth Day, on April 22. The screening in Turkey took place in Istanbul Bilgi University, Santral Campus at 2pm within the scope of Youth and Earth Festival.
With the support of the UNDP, the screening in Turkey took place in Istanbul Bilgi University, Santral Campus with the participation of the youth, NGOs, students and environmentalist volunteers. The event was organized within the scope of the Youth and Earth Festival, which was held under the sponsorship of the Municipality of Eyup in Istanbul.
“What I liked about the movie was that people were able to speak for themselves, that’s what made the film so authentic. It shows the power of people in every country in the world, saying what they thought about issues,” said United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark, who attended the full house New York premiere at the 1,800-seat capacity UN General Assembly.
Screenings were held around the world, in places such as the main square of Katmandu, Nepal, the French Institute in Kabul and in Sierra Leone’s only cinema, which was also filled to capacity.
The film was created with an international community of filmmakers and with funders including The Ford Foundation’s JustFilms Initiative. UNDP offices in more than 95 countries participated in and contributed to the filming of this documentary with footage highlighting issues such as women’s empowerment, sustainable development, cultural diversity and people working together to solve pressing challenges.
UNDP has extended its support to the project through 2015. Since the screening, the filmmakers Kyle Ruddick (founder/director) and Brandon Litman, (co-founder/executive producer), say they have received requests for additional screenings worldwide. The film will continue to be available for US audiences through Tugg.com, an online platform that enables people to bring the films they want to their local theaters.
“The mixture of talented filmmakers, a dedicated crew, supportive partners, and new technology made a dream come true. This has been the project of a lifetime and I hope to continue to collaborate with the One Day on Earth community for years to come,” said Ruddick.
“The film clearly shows the power of the community and movement. We have unprecedented support to unite media creators and make a significant impact through a joint effort. This is just the beginning," said Litman.
The project targets to increase the awareness of youth about credit risk, budgetary planning skills and effects of bad loans on household welfare.
A well-trained volunteer IT peer educator team will give trainings that will focus on calculable risk and budget management.
Target group of the project will be composed of young women and men aged 18 to 30 all over the Turkey. The target group of the activities is University Students enrolled in the 3rd and 4th Year Classes, University Graduates seeking for job.
The trainings, which will be implemented in 10 cities of Turkey, are going to be multiplied via localized online Digital Literacy curriculum.
The project will serve for the socio - economic empowerment of youth and will significantly contribute to the implementation and realization of UN Youth Policies as well as UN Millennium Development Goals.
The trainings will be conducted in the universities of 10 different provinces.
The voluntary trainers and training participants will be outreached through the entrepreneurship clubs of the universities and the networks of city councils as well as youth parliaments.
Experian experts will be giving the training seminars to the target group.
The training will include the following subjects:
• What is credit risk and how can some mistakes during applications affect us?
• How should we manage our budget? What are the current habits in Turkey, Europe and North America?
• What can be done to avoid debt trap and bankruptcy?
• To whom, how and based on what criteria do bank give loans?
• Why may banks refuse your loan application?
• How can your loan become instantly available by just sending your National ID number in an SMS?
The organizations are open to all participants but trying to include especially university students.
Uzundere Nature, Youth and Sports Association (UDOSK) and Erzurum Tourism Envoies (ERTUEL) are organizing joint organizations mainly focusing bicycle and bird watching activities.
On the other hand Association of Outdoor Sports Club (DADAK) is specialized in camping, trekking and mountaneering activities. They provide trainings and activities both indoors and outdoors.
What is TDEAP?
TDEAP jointly executed by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ministry of Culture and Tourism and EFES Company since April 2007, aims to contribute to the living standard of local people by improving tourism activities in the Coruh Valley.
Conventional and traditional agricultural systems and irrigation methods prove to be ineffective with respect to detoriating climate conditions.
Moreover, this increases the pressure on the subterranean water table.
Drought, as one of the possible outcomes of global climate change, is a major threat to agricultural sustainability.
"Permaculture" is an agricultural design system providing appropriate solutions to these problems, as demonstrated in many successful cases from all over the world.
Examples in arid areas have provided striking results. Swales (keyline) and ponds (small dam) are two important aspects of permaculture design.
Both of these are based on the principle of collecting the surface water in the rainy season, so that this water is absorbed and maintained in the area where it is needed for food production.
With the project, strips of food forest was planted on and just below the swale mound.
The mature food forest were made up of seven layers of productive (fruits) and support species (mainly nitrogen-fixing legumes).
The food forest, so designed but modeled from nature, provides/ grows its own mulch and organic matter and needs no external input other than maintenance (yearly pruning and chop and drop).
The lifespan, age of bearing and yield of the productive species is thus enhanced. This in turn aids rural communities in terms of food security and supports local economies as surplus.
The project built swales and a pond on land belonging to members of the Association and to the village authority as a model.
The effectiveness of these methods were tested by measuring the subterranean moisture regularly and observing the increase in agricultural yield.
The results was shared with local people and local agricultural authorities.
Additionally, a series of practical and theoretical training activities were done and results and lessons learned were shared with farmers in neighboring villages.
Marmariç Ecological Life Association, had started the Izmir Permaculture Project with the support from GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP).
Brochures, tour programmes and ceramics souveniers prepared under the scope of Tourism Development in Eastern Anatolia Region Project (TDEAP) depicting Çoruh Valley distributed to relevant groups.
The list of participated fairs:
• Travel Turkey, İzmir (8-11 December 2011)
• Tourism Fair, Utrecht, Holland (11-12 January 2012)
• EMITT, İstanbul (9-12 February 2012)
• Cycling and Walking Fair, Amsterdam, Holland (11-12 February 2012)
• ITB Berlin, Germany (7-11 March 2012)
• Tourism Fair, Tblisi, Georgia (6-8 April 2012)
All these activities enhanced communication of the specialized local tour operators (specialized in cultural and outdoor activities in the Çoruh Valley) with national and international tour operators.
Çoruh Valley tours are advertised as an alternative destination for Eastern Anatolia, Turkey in couple of major travel and leisure websites.
B&Bs and daily tourism businesses serving local food supported under the scope of TDEAP project will provide lodging and meals of the visitors.
Some tour programmes including Çoruh Valley:
http://www.zayende.com/gezi_detay.asp?AyDi=187
http://www.tempotur.com.tr/ARTVIN--GURCU-KILISELERI--BATUM-TURLARI_u_r_n_37550.htm#.UWwO-aLwmuI
http://www.arnika.com.tr/turlar.asp?tur=ozel_23nisan_coruhvadisi
http://www.nestravel.com/Tur/Detay/584/
What is TDEAP?
TDEAP jointly executed by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ministry of Culture and Tourism and EFES Company since April 2007, aims to contribute to the living standard of local people by improving tourism products and activities in the Çoruh Valley.
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The training was realized in Akyaka and Göcek. The representatives from the Provincial Directorates of Environment and Urbanization, Provincial Directorates of Culture and Tourism, relevant district administrations, harbormasters , NGOs, the cooperatives in the regions, chambers of trade, marinas and hotels in Muğla, İzmir and Balıkesir, in which of the project is being implemented.
The training included the titles such as tourism in the sensitive areas, tourism in the protected areas, sustainable tourism, strategy and competition. The training modules are important in terms of evaluating the sustainable tourism activities in the project sites with large scaled participation which gets the relevant parties together.
The interest and participation were high for the “The Determination of the Sustainable and Environmentally-Friendly Activities in the Project Sites Workshops” in which the activities were determined with the participation of the stakeholders.
In the scope of Sivas Erzincan Development Project, agricultural and social infra-structure investments aim to increase the income levels of target groups in Sivas and Erzincan, which serve as a basis for sustainable development and preservation of natural resources.
Insofar in the Project, animal water drinking structures, village roads, semi-open barns, barn rehabilitations, milk collection centers, soil analysis labs, fodder grinding and mixing machines, baling units, dry beans screening, sorting and packaging facilities had been provided as various agricultural investments.
Starting with this year, the construction of 7 closed piped pressurized irrigation establishments had been started in order to provide a high-technology solution to a sustainable, effective, economically efficient and preserving water use in irrigation. It is planned to set up 2 of the establishment in Sivas and 5 in Erzincan.
In this regard, the construction of closed piped pressurized irrigation system in Üzümlü District of Erzincan is started on 6 April 2012 in presence of district local administrators, Officers of Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock, SEDP Management Unit and local farmers.
The most promising parts of project region for agriculture has been selected for the construction of pressurized irrigation.
The existing irrigation structures in the region are prevalently pumped open channel system that had been built in 1970’s.
‘A dream comes true’
With the new construction, of which total cost is expected to be around USD 8 million, a modern system will be built of an approximately 109 km in length and will enable the irrigation of an additional 20.234 decares in the region.
The total irrigable land in the region will increase to 28.711 decares.
As the irrigation system starts to operate, the irrigation expenses of the farmers will drastically decrease as they will switch to closed piped system from open channels and their agricultural product range will widen.
The excess amount of their current expenses then will account to their revenues. The yield from high-profit earning agricultural products will also increase.
Local administrators of the region express that Sivas-Erzincan Development Project has made their dream come true, as this investment will substantially increase productivity and attract further agro-industries to the region.
That is expected to lead to an increase in employment opportunities in agriculture and diminish the migration caused by unemployment.
The project is executed by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, implemented by UNDP and funded by the GEF.
The meeting was organized with participation of project partners from Turkey for 12 large scale and multi-stakeholder projects on climate change.
A total of 35 participants from public and private sector and universities participated in the meeting.
General information and project findings of research projects that are ongoing under the 7th Framework Programme of the European Union (EU) were shared with participants with the focus of progress and potential for Turkey on climate change research.
Representatives of 12 projects have the opportunity to find out common and cross-cutting areas and expertise of projects and teams while presenting their projects which are in a wide range including 'nano-technology', 'water resources', 'Mediterranian and Black Sea Ecosystems', 'Forests', 'Mitigation/Adaption Policies', 'Megacities' and so on.
It has been observed that number of research projects on climate change in Turkey has increased since the preparation and submission of the Turkey`s First National Communication on 2007.
This is a good indicator for capacity building in this area through the preparation of First and Second National Communications of Turkey.
The meeting has also provided capacity building by bringing experts from different fields for potential future collaboration.
Meeting was an important and significant step as it was the first meeting bringing the 7th FP project researchers on climate change in Turkey.
Participants have the chance to exchange information and meet each other to find a common base for collaborative future works. Participants expressed their gratitude at end of the meeting.
You can view the agenda of the meeting and the presentations from here.
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Workshop participants, whose licenses were issued, competed professionally in International Salcano MTB Cup Polonezköy Lap in February.
Having pedaled with experienced bikers in the same lap, Dream Academy team places ranked high in the race.
Dream Academy Mountain Bike (MTB) Workshop started with the participation of children within Youth Re-autonomy Foundation of Turkey (TÇYÖV).
Dreams Mountain Bike (MTB) Team students are going to work out under trainers every week.
Workshop is aimed at creating a high team spirit among socially disadvantaged individuals and helping them socialize through sport.
Dreams Mountain Bike Team took part in a 10 km free ride mountain bike race in 2011 Corporate Games and was crowned champion after taking the first place in the race.
Their objective for this year is to take the opportunity of joining international races by participating in races indicated in the calendar of Cycling Federation and getting high places in those.
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The Seminar provided an opportunity for 140 representatives from more than 30 public institutions to discuss emerging trends in international development cooperation.
Discussions focused on the steps required for OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) membership, obligations of Turkey's potential membership to DAC as well as broader issues on aid effectiveness, global trends and mechanisms that govern international development cooperation.
UNDP’s support in this Seminar was designed as part of the capacity support provided to TIKA for more effective aid delivery, building on Turkey’s emerging development donor role within the framework of the project ‘Bridging Emerging Donor Roles and South-South Cooperation’, implemented with TIKA since 2008.
Turkey offered membership for OECD DAC
For 50 years Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of OECD is working towards “promoting development cooperation so as to contribute to sustainable development and to a future in which no country will depend on aid.”
23 countries and European Union are the members of OECD DAC. Turkey is a founder member of OECD, however still holds an observer position in DAC.
Brian Atwood, Chairman of DAC, visited Turkey on February 20-22 , 2012 and offered membership to Turkey in the OECD Development Assistance Committee as a country already assisting many countries, including Somalia, in all corners of the world.
Atwood shared his expectation from Turkey to announce its intention to become a member of DAC at the OECD Ministerial Conference on May 22-24 which will be chaired by Turkey.
TIKA, as the main coordinator of ODA in Turkey, in collaboration with UNDP and OECD organized a seminar to contribute to informed decision making by elaborating on the obligations and necessary steps of membership to DAC together with decision makers and experts of leading public institutions of Turkish development cooperation.
Global process in development cooperation
On the first day of the Seminar OECD Deputy Director Karen Jorgensen and Kimberly Smith from the Statistics Division informed the participants on working with the DAC and the Accession Process.
UNDP Programme Managers Berna Bayazıt (Turkey) and Dmitri Mariassin (Bratislava) presented trends, partnerships and innovative examples of development cooperation through global process of UN.
The second day of the Seminar emphasized DAC Statistics and Reporting format as one of the most important criteria of Membership.
The Seminar created a discussion platform on Turkey's DAC membership for a diverse range of participants and pending Turkey’s decision to communicate its commitment for DAC membership, will be followed by other events that aim at increasing awareness on the subject.
Dreams Academy students and instructors staged the play to raise awareness of various types of disability.
300 people watched the play, which is the new output of Dream Academy Project, in its premiere.
Awareness theatre will be staged during the year.
Within the scope of cooperation, Tanyel Süzer, Dreams Academy instructor and Merve Sözen, United Nations Volunteer (UNV) went to the UK for a business trip in March and they visited Barrs Court School and The Saint Christopher Foundation Special School.
Two other instructors coming from these schools attended workshops of Dreams Academy as guests between 23 and 28 March.
Another pillar of cooperation project includes providing office team members of Dream Academy with professional English language training. Training sessions will go on 4 hours a week for 6 weeks.
Moreover, British Council offer consultancy services to volunteer instructors of Dreams Academy in order to enable Dreams Academy participants to learn English by means of art.
Representing Dreams Academy, the sportsmen will race in the categories of swimming, chess, running, MTB, football and carting on June 8, 9 and 10, 2012.
Volunteers who wish to accompany the sportsmen and be in charge of the Dreams Academy stands need to send an e-mail to mina.iky@gmail.com with their information as soon as possible.
Dreams Academy invites all volunteers to share the excitement of this event.
“Best Buddy Story” awards were distributed at the “Best Buddies March Celebration Night” on March 26.
Kemal Mallı’s DJ performance and Dreams Academy’s Srytaki group’s instructor, Melike Dirik and her students’ show accompanied Social Inclusion Band’s concert.
On April 30, Social Inclusion Band and Dreams Academy gave once again an unforgettable performance at Babylon.
Social Inclusion Band is comprised of talented young people and professional musicians raised by Dreams Academy, which unites disabled and socially disadvantaged young people. Social Inclusion Band has been performing at various festivals such as Akbank Sanat’s Jazz Festival, Rock’n Coke and Efes One Love Festival and at various venues like Roxy, Ghetto and Babylon.
The band has also shared the stage with many musicians and bands including Cahit Berkay, Babazula, Bengü, Şebnem Ferah, Hayko Cepkin and Can Bonomo.
This week we will talk about “One Day on Earth” motion picture, a film comprised of videos that thousands of people recorded in every corner of the world and sent in one day on 10.10.10.
UNDP Turkey: Hello, this is the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme Turkey. This week we will talk about the One Day on Earth Project. Towards the end of April, the “One Day on Earth” film, comprised of videos that thousands of people recorded and sent in one day on 10.10.10, was screened in Istanbul simultaneously with the rest of the world. The global screening took place with the support of UNDP and other international organizations.
The “One Day on Earth” Project started off in 2008 with the aim of creating a time capsule of videos recorded in one day from all round the world. But didn’t such a challenging task also carry great risks? Brandon Litman, one of the film’s producers says the following in an interview via Skype to NTV:
Brandon Litman (B.L.): Well, we knew that what we were doing was a first. So we tried to work as hard as possible to come up with as many stories as we could. Actually we didn’t know what to expect. But we did our best and we are very happy with the result. I think this movie will get many people to think.
UNDP Turkey: First on October 10, 2010 (10.10.10) and then on November 11, 2011 (11.11.11) people were invited to share the videos they took on onedayonearth.org. Later on this became a video map, which is open to everybody, of moments people from every corner of the world shared in one day.
B.L.: We had more than 3000 hours of footage and each moment was filled with stories. We can give you some very interesting figures. We translated more than 240 hours of footage from more than 70 languages.
UNDP Turkey: One Day on Earth’s partners include United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Women, UNAIDS, World Health Organization (WHO), CERN, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Red Cross Red Crescent (ICRC & IFRC), World Wildlife Fund for Nature, Water.org, World Bank, Human Rights Watch, US FUND for UNICEF and 350.org.
The film One Day on Earth was created from more than 3000 hours of footage received on 10.10.10. Back to Brandon Litman.
B.L.: At first we had to watch many of them and tried to understand what the world was telling us. I mean we also found out about things during this process. We wanted to reflect both sadness and happiness. So this movie starts with the earth and ends with the earth. We showed joyful themes like weddings and children but we also wanted to insert videos regarding environmental sustainability, water shortage and economic struggles.
UNDP Turkey: The film tells the story of the world on 10.10.10 with all its tragedies and achievements while reflecting its striking diversity. In line with the projects objective, the film aims to bring people closer to one another as it combines their similarities and differences. By enabling people to continue cooperating in the future, the project is aiming to create a community fostered through communication. What was Turkey’s contribution to this film?
B.L.: Turkey’s contribution increased throughout the years. I remember some very striking videos from Turkey in 2010. Of course I don’t know exactly the names of those regions but we did receive videos from Turkey. In 2011, we received more videos. We hope to gather more participants from Turkey after the screening this Sunday. We hope to repeat this every year and to come up with a new film each year. We want all countries to be represented.
UNDP Turkey: From youngsters, who sent videos they recorded though their cell phones, to professional documentarians, men and women of all ages, countries, races and cultures, as well as over 60 NGOs, contributed to the film.
B.L.: We have some videos of breathtaking scenes. Natural landscapes from Europe and Eastern Europe, elephants from Africa, kangaroos from Australia and whales from off the coast of Canada. We also have some other very interesting footage.
UNDP Turkey: Some memorable scenes include a high-profile military parade in North Korea, views of Mecca and the Galapagos Islands, a scuba dive in the Red Sea and the 10th birthday party for a Dutch boy with a rare genetic disease given a life expectancy of ten years. So let’s hear how producer Brandon Litman spent 10.10.10.
B.L.: I had a very interesting experience the day we shot this movie. I was in New York and I spent a day listening to the stories of illegal immigrants. So that’s what I was doing on 10.10.10. It was a very enlightening day for me. There is one thing you see in this movie and that is the circle of life. All the people in this film are trying to make the world a better place, at least for themselves. And as a global international community, we want to do our best.
UNDP Turkey: Will the project continue in the future? Don’t you think it will be hard to find new themes for each movie?
B.L.: I think each year is different. In 2011 we received many videos relating to the Arab Spring and other issues. So each year will have a different theme. As our community grows our films will have more depth and diversity. Then we will be able to produce truly global films. Perhaps the movies will feature topics of more economic and environmental nature but they will also include very special human stories.
UNDP Turkey: Whether it is a documentary or a film comprised of thousands of different videos taken in a hundred different places, a film has to have a theme. So what does One Day on Earth tell us?
B.L.: I think the theme is the flow of life. The flow of life in various locations. We aimed to tie everything up this concept. We reduced the running time to 140 minutes. I told you before that we had 3000 hours of footage. You see how beautiful the earth is. You places you have never seen in the movie. I think we grew by 11.11.11 and included more serious stories regarding certain issues such as gender equality and refugees. But 10.10.10, meaning the 2010 movie, is our most important film because it was a first and also a wonderful gift to our community.
UNDP Turkey: Directed by the project’s founder, Kyle Ruddick, and produced by Brandon Litman and his team, “One Day on Earth”s global screening was held this Earth Day, on April 22. The screening in Turkey took place in Istanbul Bilgi University, Santral Campus at 2pm within the scope of Youth and Earth Festival.
The track you are currently listening to was composed for One Day on Earth film, shot with the support of UNDP, by DJ Cut Chemist who wrote the piece using only natural sounds and reassembling them on a computer. For this track and other details go to onedayonearth.org. You can find the various videos UNDP Turkey recorded on 11.11.11 for this project featuring Turkey’s different locations on our Vimeo account.
One Day on Earth was screened in every country on the same day with the support of UNDP. You listened to parts of an interview with the film’s producer, Brandon Litman’s with NTV. We have come to the end of this episode of the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme Turkey. This program has been recorded at the studio of Radyo İlef of Ankara University Communications Department. You can follow our program on Açık Radyo (Open Radio) on FM frequency, on university radios in our broadcasting network, on iTunes under podcasts and on undp.org.tr. Our username for social media is undpturkiye. Hope to see you next week, good-bye!
In this episode, we talk about a project which contributes to this recovery. The project is implemented in Diyarbakır, Batman and Siirt provinces.
UNDP Turkey: Hello, this is the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme Turkey. According to TurkStat data, when average income in Turkey is used as a base, more than 30% of the poor live in the Southeastern Anatolia Region. This figure had surpassed 33% in 2007. In this episode, we will talk about a project that contributes to progress. This is a development project, which is carried out in Diyarbakır, Batman and Siirt provinces. Our contributor is Burak Eldem, Administrator of Diyarbakır-Batman-Siirt Development Project. Welcome, Mr. Eldem.
Burak Eldem (B.E.): I am honoured, thank you.
UNDP Turkey: This project in question is coming to an end. You launched it in 2008 and you are aiming at finishing it at the end of 2012, aren’t you?
B.E.: Exactly.
UNDP Turkey: This Diyarbakır-Batman-Siirt Development Project, which has started to yield results, is among a wide array of projects that contribute to reducing poverty. Let’s talk a bit about the region, the general structure of the region and the circumstances requiring implementation of such rural development projects. We all know these but we would like to see them from your point of view.
B.E.: Of course, with pleasure. As is known to all, the region has some income and living conditions. However, these ways of deriving income cannot be used efficiently. Therefore, this project is carried out to use factors of production more efficiently and to help farmers produce higher income. Our most important objective is to make farmers live on welfare by increasing their levels of income and socio-economic development. The agriculture sector in our country is of vital importance in terms of people’s healthy eating, their employment, the contribution of agriculture to economy and its export potential. The Southeastern Anatolia Region has this potential. As I mentioned before, our farmers should use production resources in a more efficient way in order to produce higher income.
UNDP Turkey: When we are talking about the region, we mean Diyarbakır, Batman and Siirt provinces in this context. As you mentioned, resources in the region are abundant and if the people make the best use of these resources, the region would get prosperous. However, there are high levels of poverty instead. Therefore, since the project is taking aim at reducing poverty, we should talk a little bit on the methods to be used. Which methods did you use in this project to reduce poverty? Under which headings were your activities grouped?
B.E.: Frankly speaking, we needed to carry out some preliminary surveys to keep the project on track. With the resources and feasibility studies, –
UNDP Turkey: You tried to come up with a picture reflecting the region.
B.E.: That’s right and consequently, some activities were carried out to use the best techniques and these were grouped under some headings. All of these were reflected in the main document of the project.
UNDP Turkey: This is a project aiming at reducing rural poverty. Therefore, it is highly understandable why you concentrated on agriculture. Because if we are talking about Diyarbakır, Batman and Siirt provinces, agriculture is a sector where poverty is concentrated. So you must have carried out some activities such as introducing modern methods.
B.E.: Exactly. Introducing modern methods to farmers and using these methods are very important in the region. And it takes time. Training is a must. Therefore, this is an issue that we attach utmost importance. Particularly, we should train women farmers and help them contribute to production. Thus, we are expending great effort on this.
UNDP Turkey: We have already talked about concentrated poverty in the region. When we look at lower layers of society there, unemployment rates are very high among young people and women. Categories of unemployment can change according to definition of unemployment. However, we can say that disguised unemployment is highly seen. The fact that this project aiming at reducing poverty particularly concentrates on women is a point that should be emphasized, isn’t it?
B.E.: Yes, that is right.
UNDP Turkey: Now, let’s elaborate on the details of this project. There are a lot of interesting points among the notes I took. I would like to highlight some of them. You made a value chain analysis, let’s talk a little bit on this. The analysis you mentioned before is closely related to that, I guess. It is an analysis concerning planning of all stages of production. Then, you developed a method based on the analysis and established a chain of activities encompassing a wide range of activities from fruit growing to drip irrigation. Let’s talk a bit about these activities. Which areas did you prioritize in terms of agriculture?
B.E.: We carried out our activities in order to put new production techniques, which were lacking or were being delayed before, into effect through Food, Agriculture and Livestock Provincial Directorates. As a result, we started to create archetypal gardens to demonstrate the farmers how they will make their productions. With these gardens, we started to show them different kinds of activities such as fence systems, drip irrigation, sapling planting, vine training systems, etc.
UNDP Turkey: What does “vine training system” mean?
B.E.: Vine training system means setting up vineyards in a more modern way and cultivate them according to international standards.
UNDP Turkey: So this system is more modern than conventional rod and spur pruning system.
B.E.: More modern “T” shaped vines are installed higher off the ground so production increases.
UNDP Turkey: Then it is better when the grapes don’t touch the ground.
B.E.: Exactly, and with this drip irrigation system, we both save water and change the application techniques in the region. We try to make production in nature compatible ways.
UNDP Turkey: In fact, when these provinces are in question, viniculture isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Thus, if we are talking about your project again, as far as I understand creating archetypal gardens is more income-generating and enables you to grow crops dependent on climatic conditions of the region and to show farmers how to grow them. Because you told that this is a demonstrative project.
B.E.: That’s right. Here, the most important thing is to determine the shortcomings in the region and to carry out activities in those fields. We will get the most important output of this in the following years. Agricultural engineers in Provincial Directorates of Food, Agriculture and Livestock carry out these analyses.
UNDP Turkey: When we are talking about Diyarbakır, the first fruit that comes to mind is watermelon, not grape. Except grape, which other crops do you grow?
B.E.: We are also dealing with production of almonds, walnuts, apricots and also Zivzik pomegranate. I wanted to lay stress on pomegranate –
UNDP Turkey: Cultivar.
B.E.: Yes, pomegranate cultivar. Cultivar “Zivzik” is an income-generating crop.
UNDP Turkey: Pomegranate is a fruit, which is planted a lot in southeastern and southern parts of Turkey. Pomegranate juice is mostly sent from those regions. Thus, pomegranate cultivation should be supported. Now, let’s take a look at the infrastructure pillar of the project. Since this is a project aimed at development in rural areas, strengthening infrastructure is of vital importance to eliminate poverty and to rehabilitate health systems. Establishing water supply networks and sewage treatment system is also important. Where did you concentrate your plans? In how many villages were you able to implement your projects? Can you give us some figures?
B.E.: At the beginning of this project, particularly as infrastructure works, sewage disposal systems were prominent. Hence, infrastructure works were carried out to eliminate shortcomings in villages and to help people lead healthier lives. After carrying out all these works, it was understood in 2010 that accessing drinking water was a real problem for villagers and drinking water reservoirs were constructed. In 2011, an open-channel irrigation system started being dug. It was also a significant tender. Previously, flood irrigation system had been used but then that system was terminated and we made it possible for farmers to access water by more modern ways. We brought water to them.
UNDP Turkey: Flood irrigation and drip irrigation are the opposites of one another.
B.E.: Drip irrigation system delivers water directly to the root zone of a plant by means of irrigation canals.
UNDP Turkey: So this method saves water, then?
B.E.: Yes, drip irrigation helps you use water efficiently. It also makes easier to irrigate vast areas.
UNDP Turkey: We come across the issue of sustainable development in each and every stage of the project. Guiding the farmers as far as the methods go and providing funds for those who use these methods are among the targets of this project. In this sense, grants are an additional output and you awarded grants to many people. Let’s talk a bit on this. How many people have received these grants? And how much did you allocate for these granting programs?
B.E.: So far, we have supported more than 180 personal and economic investments. Here, we mean small investors by personal investments and legal entities by economic investments. In 2010 and 2011 we awarded 660,000 TL and 370,000 TL to grant beneficiaries respectively and in 2012 we are planning to award them 2 million 89,000 TL.
UNDP Turkey: So you have already granted these figures in 2010 and 2011.
B.E.: Yes.
UNDP Turkey: And you are planning to provide them with 2 million TL in 2012, aren’t you? Are these figures all in Turkish Liras? These are not small amounts. After all, this project has a budget of 37 million dollars as far as I know.
B.E.: That’s true. The project budget is about 37 million dollars. An amount of 24 million dollars of the total sum is funded by IFAD. The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock funds 4.4 million dollars as domestic funding and UNDP funds 0.7 million dollars of it.
UNDP Turkey: Let’s open up what we mean by IFAD. IFAD stands for International Fund for Agricultural Development. It is a specialized funding agency of the United Nations that supports agricultural development. There are funds directed to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock through this agency. You also have connection with universities in the region. With Dicle University, I guess. Dicle University is one of the most important universities in the region. You have connections with that university and you consult the university academics in each stage of the project.
B.E.: Yes, in some stages of tenders, we come to a deadlock. Therefore, we receive help from universities to provide higher input and reflect it to our tenders. This is a source of pride for us.
UNDP Turkey: A noteworthy source of pride. Your website is dbsdp.org is your website. DBS part stands for Diyarbakır, Batman and Siirt, while “d” stands for development and “p” stands for project. Since there is still a lot to talk about, our audience can access on this website more detailed information. For instance, greenhouses will be built in the region and this is not very common in Diyarbakır, Batman and Siirt. You also support growing ornamental plants, which is not again very common in the region. Furthermore, you support solar-powered irrigation. Our audience will be able to see them all and more on dbsdp.org. Thank you very much, Mr. Eldem, Diyarbakır-Batman-Siirt Development Project Administrator, for your contribution. We have come to the end of this episode of the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme Turkey. This program has been recorded at the studio of Radyo İlef of Ankara University Communications Department. You can follow our program on Açık Radyo (Open Radio) on FM frequency, on university radios in our broadcasting network, on iTunes under podcasts and on undp.org.tr. Our username for social media is undpturkiye. Hope to see you next week, good bye!
This week, we talk about three provinces of Turkey which are at 43rd, 67th and 74th ranks in Socio-economic Development Index among Turkey’s 81 provinces and a development project implemented in these provinces. The project is implemented in Kars and Ardahan provinces of East Anatolia, and in Artvin province of the Black Sea region.
UNDP Turkey: Hello, this is the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme Turkey. In this episode, we will talk about a development project carried out in three cities of Turkey, which are in 43rd, 67th and 74th position on the socio-economic development index, out of 81 cities. This project is carried out in Kars and Ardahan in East Anatolia and in Artvin in the Black Sea. Our contributor today is Arif Mert Öztürk, director of the Ardahan-Kars-Artvin Development Project. Welcome.
Arif Mert Öztürk (A.Ö): Hello.
UNDP Turkey: As I mentioned, these cities came 43rd, 67th and 74th out of 81. These figures are from 2004-2005 but this is still enough to highlight the problem. Let’s talk about the region. Artvin may be slightly different from the other two as it is located in the Black Sea, but there are also many similarities. Can we talk about the existing state of these three cities? What is the situation in these cities?
A.Ö.: As you said, these three cities are in the category of the least developed cities. Apart from this, the geography of the region is not suitable, it is at high altitude and the winters are long and harsh. Naturally, this restricts farming seasons. We are talking about a region in which the density of the rural population is high, while sources of income and development are limited.
UNDP Turkey: Because of inconvenient geographic conditions for farming, they may be more inclined towards animal husbandry. From a socio-economic point of view, this is where the unemployment rate is high, is not it?
A.Ö.: Generally, more than half of the population of Ardahan and Kars live in rural zones. And there, although they are considered farm labourers, they do not have a regular income.
UNDP Turkey: The data shows that both total unemployment and female unemployment rates are one of the highest in the zone. The rural population density is also high. Let’s get back to the previous point: this region is where there is a high level of animal husbandry and low population density at the same time, is this true?
A.Ö.: Yes it is, and animal husbandry is the main source of income as you mentioned. Ardahan is one of the smallest cities in Turkey, with a population of 107,000. Yet, there are 256,000 cattle in the region. For a comparison, only 14/1000 of the whole population of Turkey live in Ardahan, while the rate is 2% for livestock.
UNDP Turkey: 2% of the cattle stock and a very low percentage of the total population…
A.Ö.: And this shows how intensive the animal husbandry is in the region.
UNDP Turkey: Again, according to the data that we have found on your website, Ardahan and Kars are in the fifth category of the least developed cities, while Artvin is in the third category. So this gives us a general idea about what we are dealing with here. Let us talk about the project itself. The ‘Ardahan-Kars-Artvin Development Project' is relatively new. When did it start?
A.Ö.: The project began right after the plan was signed off on by The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock in January of 2011. However, in practice, we started after the officers in the Kars office were able to start working, and this was after the summer of 2011.
UNDP Turkey: So actually the project dates back just a few months. Therefore, talking about the goals of the project rather than its past might be more appropriate. Of course, you are working with some partners. And The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock is the essential one. UNDP is providing implementation support to this project. Let us talk about the goals of this project. What do you aim to change in this region?
A.Ö.: Mostly, it is aimed to create a sustainable source of income and models for farmers. In terms of animal husbandry, as a main source of income for this region, it is aimed at providing more modern and efficient techniques of animal husbandry for obtaining sufficient levels of milk and meat for sale. On the other hand, it is also aiming to invest in rural infrastructure. This could mean better water supplies, sewage and water treatment investments.
UNDP Turkey: Let me note that you focus on two specific subjects. Animal husbandry should be modernized and a lucrative model should be created, this is your first goal. The second is to consolidate the rural infrastructure, from drinking water to waste water. Let’s discuss in more detail the animal husbandry projects. What kind of models do you propose for a society where animal husbandry is the essential source of income?
A.Ö.: Now, a livestock market is about to be set up in Ardahan and this is one of the most important projects of us in 2012. The first thing that comes to our mind about livestock markets is the old traditional markets where we make negotiations; but, we can consider this a buying and selling centre, kind of an auction centre. We want to make it easy for farmers to bring their livestock to market, to build a centre with social facilities, and have enough open space for everyone to move comfortably, and this will also help to manage the market efficiently. This will lead to better prices and sales for farmers.
UNDP Turkey: This is to make the free market more efficient and create a suitable environment to make it run more efficiently, and also to make sure it abides by some rules and international standards, is not it?
A.Ö.: We touched upon the economic aspect. There are also hygiene and health aspects which are very important. Currently, the livestock market is located in the center of the city and this is dangerous to our health. With the new livestock market, it is aimed at removing these risk factors.
UNDP Turkey: When is it going to be finished? And how will it run itself? Who will be taking care of this business?
A.Ö.: Ardahan Municipality is the most important partner in this project. The municipality is supporting this. Since the provincial agriculture directorate has a hand in this project, there is not going to be any problem with managing this project. We plan to finish at the end of 2012, if everything goes well.
UNDP Turkey: At the end this year, at least one part of this project will be finished. You have already said that you aim to provide new methods, some other techniques concerning animal husbandry to the region. Let us focus on infrastructure a bit. This is a region where the rural population is dense. The density of animals is also high. What kind of works will we have for rural infrastructure?
A.Ö.: For 2012, we determined 40 villages for the application.
UNDP Turkey: From the three cities?
A.Ö.: Yes, 40 villages from the 3 cities. Now we are analyzing the needs of the villages. After we take the other projects of the Special Provincial Directorate and other institutions into account, inadequacies will be found out and the feasibility study will start if it is affordable to do so. But firstly, the need analysis will be carried out.
UNDP Turkey: Later on, there will be a chance to provide many things through tenders such as drinking water and sewage systems to these 40 selected villages. These will be finished before the project ends. Let me underline this: for UNDP, the project is based on the reduction of poverty. Since poverty is high in the region, UNDP’s intervention aims to reduce poverty. And the main executor here is the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock. UNDP will provide the implementation support. What about your budget?
A.Ö.: Our budget is approximately 22 million American Dollars. 26 million American Dollars altogether including beneficiaries’ contributions. 22 million dollars is provided by IFAD. And the other part is from the beneficiaries.
UNDP Turkey: It is provided by International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, a specialized agency of the United Nations. Then it is transferred to the project by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock. Your target is 2015 in terms of the goals. When 2015 comes, what will be different in these three cities? Let us finish with this.
A.Ö.: With rural infrastructure, we aim to prevent the diseases caused by sewage and infrastructure problems. Economically, we aim to enrich the sources of income for the rural population living in the region. Therefore, we wish to enlarge the size of businesses dealing in livestock, for instance, from 5-10 cattle to a herd of 20-30 for example, and make them more productive.
UNDP Turkey: By aiming to reduce poverty, there will be a focus on disadvantaged groups such as women and youth. Will you have some other activities devoted to them during this period?
A.Ö.: Of course. We mostly talked about animal husbandry. Women play a key role here. Generally, animal care, animal milking, collecting the milk and so on are carried out by women. Because of this, we will have special courses for women. We will do this by having them attend our theoretical and practical education sessions which will take place in our producer education center.
UNDP Turkey: We are talking about a multi-dimensional project with a considerable budget. We can say that many things will change by 2015 in these three cities. People who go there for the first time may not realize these changes, but many things will change for residents of these cities. Thanks very much for being with us. We have come to the end of this episode of the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme Turkey. This program has been recorded at the studio of Radyo İlef of Ankara University Communications Department. You can follow our program on Açık Radyo (Open Radio) on FM frequency, on university radios in our broadcasting network, on iTunes under podcasts and onundp.org.tr. Our username for social media is undpturkiye. Hope to see you next week, goodbye!
In this episode, we talk about a project aiming at reducing the energy consumption of buildings in Turkey and by this means reducing the GHG emissions.
UNDP Turkey: Hello, this is the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme Turkey. In this episode, we will talk about a project aiming to reduce the energy consumption together with greenhouse gas emissions of buildings in Turkey. My guest is Tolga Yakar, the coordinator of the mentioned project.
Tolga Yakar (T.Y.): Hello.
UNDP Turkey: This is a project named ‘increasing the energy efficiency in buildings in Turkey’. Firstly, we can start by talking about the situation in Turkey, if you wish. What is the situation in Turkey, that it requires this kind of a project, let us begin with this.
T.Y.: In Turkey, the building sector is the second biggest sector after industry in terms of energy usage. Statistics show that 36% of the energy used is consumed by the building sector in Turkey. We can infer from some indicators that there is a great potential for savings regarding energy usage in buildings in Turkey. This potential varies between 30-50%, proven by various analyses. And gaining back this great potential is going to be our primary aim in the field of energy efficiency.
UNDP Turkey: There is a considerable potential, saving potential. By buildings, what exactly do you mean? Do we mean all the buildings besides industrial ones? If not, do we mean only our residences?
T.Y.: Sure, the building sector does not consist only of residences. Apart from this; malls, hospitals or service buildings, offices and similar buildings can be counted in the building sector and the energy consumption datas I have just given above.
UNDP Turkey: What is the case in Turkey? Is Turkey bad at energy saving? What is the saving potential in Turkey?
T.Y.: Actually concerning the energy efficiency, activities devoted to ‘gaining back the saving potential’ have been going on for many years. However, all these activities were limited to the industrial sector. In the building sector, the only implementation was about having power saving home appliances such as A+, A++ rated washing machines; lamps and so forth. Therefore, this is what we can say; there have not been any activities until now intending to achieve energy saving on the issues of heat exhaustion, cooling needs and air conditioning.
UNDP Turkey: This is not only electricity, isn't it? We are referring to savings from fuel, to gas, coal and every single energy resource for heating. But buildings’ own potential for energy saving is what you focus on here, in this project. So, do we mean all the processes from the first phase of design to the last one, when it is open to usage, instead of talking about having A++ rated washing machines and dishwashers?
T.Y.: Yes, actually we are talking about both phases, design of buildings as well as the efficient ways of energy consumption during the use of these buildings. Approximately 85% of the energy used in the buildings is used for the purpose of heating, cooling and other conditioning activities. The energy used by home appliances is negligible. Therefore; heating, cooling, conditioning and lightening constitute the building’s main energy consumption. We are saying that there is a chance of having a 30-50% energy saving rate within this main energy consumption rate and we target this section with our project. If we calculate the whole energy consumption starting from the phase of design, to the production and supply of construction materials, constructing the building and finally to the last phase, demolition of the building, we can say that 80% of the consumption is done during the use of a building, which is about 100 years. 80-85% of this 80% portion is devoted to heating and cooling. In other words, our target is this 85% within 80%.
UNDP Turkey: What is this remaining 15-20% for?
T.Y.: For the construction and demolishment of buildings and the production of tools and materials to be used during the demolishment process.
UNDP Turkey: So they are all taken into account, but 80% is related to our usage in this case. What can we do then? We are talking about the design but I have had a look at the statistics and they show that urbanization in 1990 was 52%, as it is 74-75% in 2008. Turkey already has a stock of buildings. Is there any activity for houses or buildings already in place? If not, will you be doing this only for new residences? Can you tell about this in the frame of your project?
T.Y.: Sure. You touched upon a significant point. Indeed, by saying ‘energy saving in buildings’, we address two different groups. The first one is new buildings. The other is for pre-existing buildings. The things that we can do for new buildings are much easier. Byintervening in the buildings' construction and design process, we may design energy-efficient buildings by using some new techniques called ‘integrated building construction’ and this is what we are trying to universalize. So, the energy need of the buildings, for heating and cooling in particular, is minimized from the beginning.
UNDP Turkey: Is this what you call ‘integrated construction design’?
T.Y.: We can describe this method of design like so during the designing of a building, the traditional approach was to firstly let the architect design the building , and then allow the staticician, the mechanics and the electricians to do their work. But in the integrated approach, all these actors and disciplines work at the same time. Moreover, the employees and residents who are going to live there should be taken into account and using the energy efficiently should be the first aim from the beginning.
UNDP Turkey: Seventeen million US Dollars… That’s the budget for the project. The ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, the Ministry of National Education, GEF, and UNDP with its implementation support. you are already representing UNDP in this project. We have understood what the project is and what logic behind it . Let us talk about the aims of this project. What are your aims? What is the final outcome?
T.Y.: We are aiming for three things with this project. At the end of the project, we would like to reach a main goal: the first one is to empower the legislation concerning the energy efficiency in buildings. We would Also like toencourage the ministry of Environment and Urbanization, the Ministry of Energy and its officials to take part in energy saving more actively.
UNDP Turkey: So the first one is ‘legislation’.
T.Y.: Yes. Apart from this, we would like to set an example with this new approach, this integrated building design for new buildings and we would like to show that by adopting this approach we can spend the same amount of money during the design phase . Currently, three buildings are going to be designed using our method. The first two buildings belong to the Ministry of National Education, one school and one office next to it.
UNDP Turkey: And these are located in Ankara, arent they? They are Model buildings… So, you are constructing model buildings with the highest energy saving rate in Ankara.
T.Y.: Sure, we aim to construct not only energy efficient, but also cost efficient buildings in comparison to the other Ministry of National Education’s buildings.
UNDP Turkey: Do you mean the construction costs?
T.Y.: Yes, construction costs.
UNDP Turkey: And it is not yet certain where you will construct the third one. Let us have a look at the next goals.
T.Y.: Next, our third aim is to promote and spread the integrated building design approach. There is a system called the energy identity document in Turkey. This system, as in the case of home appliances, aims to rate buildings according to their energy consumption rate. Beginning from 2017, this new identity document is expected to be adopted by all pre-existing buildings as well.
UNDP Turkey: Are we able to see how much our new building consumes energy?
T.Y.: For every single building constructed after 2011 that first obtained the building license and then the occupancy permit , there should be an energy identity document. Today there are 8,000 buildings registered to this energy identity system and 90% of them are new buildings. These buildings were given an energy identity document, in other words, an energy label. So when you would like to purchase real estate, or rent a flat or an office, you will be able to see the energy performance of these buildings, and this information will be provided to you.
UNDP Turkey: This is a quite good aim, the third one. Let us finish by mentioning your last aim.
T.Y.: The energy efficiency is, indeed, the first phase of this work. The aim is not only to make buildings energy efficient. Afterwards, having sustainable cities will be depend on having sustainable buildings. And our last aim is to prepare the project for the last phase, examine the results of the former phases and bring these results to the new phases.
UNDP Turkey: So let me summarize. You target legislation of the building industry, you are going to construct three buildings, the model buildings , and you aim to spread the integrated building design approach and its applications. Finally, you want to share the experiences that you will have during this process, at the end of the project, which is expected to last 4 years. Thank you very much Tolga Yakar, the coordinator of ‘increasing the energy efficiency in buildings in Turkey’. we talked about a project aiming to reduce consumed energy together with Greenhouse gases, thereby, a project aiming to contribute to sustainable development. We have come to the end of this episode of the New Horizons Podcast of the United Nations Development Programme Turkey. This program has been recorded at the studio of Radyo İlef of Ankara University Communications Department. You can follow our program on Açık Radyo (Open Radio) on FM frequency, on university radios in our broadcasting network, on iTunes under podcasts and on undp.org.tr. Our username for social media is undpturkiye. Hope to see you next week, good-bye!