Mediterranean Forest Week: Regional and national activities of Türkiye in cooperation with FAO

In the framework of the 8th Mediterranean Forest Week (4−8 November 2024, Barcelona, Spain), FAO and  the Government of Türkiye are organizing a side event to present joint regional and national activities on forests, with special emphasis on forest restoration under the FAO–Türkiye Forestry Partnership Programme. 

Through four projects that are now ongoing, the Partnership Programme focuses on strengthening the capacities of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan by sharing Turkish and FAO technical expertise in forestry, natural resources management, desertification, and sustainable development for practical application in the field.

At the event, speakers, including representatives from the Government of Türkiye and FAO, will focus on these projects by presenting key lessons learned and examining methods for fostering synergies between the projects and programmes implemented within and outside of the region. Additionally, they will discuss strategies for a more effective and efficient implementation of the projects under the FAO–Türkiye Forestry Partnership Programme.

The side event will have a special focus on forest restoration and natural resources conservation, considering the unique challenges that Central Asian countries face, including forest degradation, caused by, among other reasons, climate change, unauthorized fuelwood removal, and overgrazing. Despite these challenges, if managed sustainably, the region's forests hold significant potential to mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide and buffering against extreme weather events.