During this quarter, our local project coordinator and volunteers in Turkey have conducted monitoring of target plant species in three Important Plant Areas (IPAs) as part of the IPAMed project. Tree planting for riparian restoration and local community involvement in building awareness of important plant species took also place.

In May, field observations and monitoring was continued for species such as Hyacinthus orientalis subsp. chinophilus. These efforts will be used for the preparation of a brief species action report. Field observations were also conducted for Iris kirkwoodiae, which will be used for the production of a booklet on "Naturally occurring Shrubs and Trees of Kahramanmaras" in 2017.

In March, the project coordinator along with volunteers, including the Dean of School of Forestry of the Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University (KSU), planted saplings of Pterocarya fraxinifolia and Salix - Populus along a small river on the KSU campus. This activity was used as a demonstration for the students of the School of Forestry to use local species in riparian habitat restoration. Further saplings were planted at the local Kapicam Nature Parc (arboretum) to emphasise the importance of local species.

The enthusiasm of our local project coordinator has been spreading and having positive impacts in the communities. At the beginning of the year, Goksun Community Education Centre (a continuing education centre) selected plant species to be used for designing handcrafts.

In the process, the Centre's Director was very enthusiastic and decided to declare the 2016 theme for their Centre as "Wild Plants of Kahramanmaras". This dedication exceeded our expectation. In May, the Director decided to hold a very successful exhibition at the Centre, showcasing the handcrafts. 

The Centre has helped our team to organize another exhibit at a popular shopping center in Kahramanmaras on July 21st and in addition, the Centre is allowing us to use these handcrafts in October for, yet, another exhibition. In addition the director decided to declare 2017 with a local botanical theme as well, and our local project team is working with him to decide on the theme. They are considering the native orchids of Kahramanmaras area as the next potential theme.

For further information: Canan Orhun

Photo: Community members showcase their handcrafts based on plant species. Rubicon.