The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change is preparing the “Natural Plant Guide Project that can be used in Urban Landscape” in 81 provinces to choose natural plant species that are suitable for the region and resistant to climate change in the design of green areas in cities. Sharing about the plant guide on his social media account, Minister Kurum said, “We will record the local vegetation in all four corners of our heavenly country according to their climate and ecological characteristics. Thus, we will have taken a very important step for Turkey to be greened according to its natural vegetation.”
The “Natural Plant Guide Project that can be used in Urban Landscape” is being prepared by the General Directorate of Combating Desertification and Erosion under the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. Within the scope of the project, local vegetation covers all around Turkey are being examined. The plant existence of the provinces is being recorded according to climate and ecological characteristics.
THE GUIDE OF CENTRAL ANATOLIA AND SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA IS READY
In the first stage, a “Natural Plant Guide for Urban Landscape Use” was prepared for the provinces in the Central Anatolia and Southeastern Anatolia regions. It is planned to complete the guides for the remaining 5 geographical regions this year. In the first stage, thanks to the guide to be offered to the municipalities, each province will be greened with plants suitable for its own climate instead of exotic plants.
MINISTER INSTITUTION: A VERY DETAILED STUDY
Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum, who shared a post on his social media account regarding the subject, said, “We are preparing a plant guide for our 81 provinces with a very detailed study. We will record the local vegetation in all four corners of our heavenly country according to their climate and ecological characteristics. Thus, we will have taken a very important step for Turkey to be greened according to its natural vegetation.”
NATURAL SPECIES WILL BE ENCOURAGED INSTEAD OF EXOTIC PLANTS
Thanks to the guide, an important step will be taken for the greening of Turkey, which has over 12 thousand plant taxa and over 3 thousand endemic plant species, according to its natural vegetation. With this study, it is planned to implement greening studies suitable for the climate and natural plant species instead of exotic plant species that do not fit the climate structure of the cities, increase the cost and do not provide sustainability in urban landscape applications.
LOCAL STANDARD FOR URBAN LANDSCAPE
Kasım Yenigün, General Manager of Combating Desertification and Erosion, stated that an important step will be taken within the scope of combating climate change, desertification and erosion with the guide, which provides detailed information on how natural plants can be used in urban landscapes in 81 provinces of Turkey. Yenigün spoke as follows: While planting trees, we both carry out serious afforestation in rural areas. However, on the other hand, we carry out important landscaping applications in our cities. We want to ensure the sustainability of these landscaping applications, ensure that these planted plants are long-lasting and also have climate-compatible, arid, low-water-consuming and durable plants. Thanks to the guide, when you want to create an urban landscape or city landscape somewhere, you no longer choose plants that are not compatible with that region from the outside. You choose permanent plants that are suitable for the climate of that region. When you scan the QR code at the end of the guide we prepared, you are given a list of all the plants you will use in that region. When you use them, you achieve both the protection of the soil and a qualified landscape with urban plants, which we desire.
