National Steppe Conservation Strategy and Action Plan 2021-2030.

The National Steppe Conservation Strategy and Action Plan is a national policy prepared within the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Turkey’s Steppe Ecosystems Project which is carried out collaboratively by FAO, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, General Directorate of Plant Production, and General Directorate of Forestry. The timeframe of this policy is 10 years between 2021 and 2030. The overall goal of this Strategy is to ensure the sociological, ecological and economic sustainability and conservation of the steppes.
In order to ensure effective management of the steppes, an enabling environment will be created and policies will be developed. To this end, the legal and administrative structures will be strengthened for the conservation and effective management of the steppes, such as the establishment of the Sub-Committee for the Execution of the Convention on the National Basis under the National Biodiversity Coordination Board to act as a main coordinating agency for the National Steppe Conservation Strategy and Action Plan. A governance model for the steppes will be developed and implemented and the cooperation and effective communication will be ensured between relevant institutions and stakeholders. Furthermore, research, monitoring and technology capacities will be developed by improving steppe-related data and information generation, sharing and use.
Measures will be taken to ensure the conservation of the steppe ecosystems, species and habitats, and genetic resources. Biodiversity conservation will be ensured by increasing the coverage of protected areas including priority steppe areas, monitoring the sites of importance including steppe areas, determining ecological corridors, determining the priority steppe species and their habitats, implementing species action plans, especially for steppe-specific species, and conserving steppe species and habitats in the existing protected areas in cooperation with the local people. The adaptive capacity of the steppe ecosystems will be increased against climate change to increase their resilience. Actions will be carried out to identify and monitor the possible effects of climate change on the steppe ecosystems, prepare and implement adaptation plans, and develop monitoring programs. The biodiversity-related value of the steppes will be promoted and its visibility will be increased by raising public awareness on the biodiversity values of steppes and good practices through promotion, information, communication and education activities. In addition to that, the plant and animal species in the steppes that may be important in terms of genetic resource quality will be registered and conserved ex-situ, traditional knowledge will be recorded and innovative practices will be promoted. The use of resources in the steppes will be improved in a sustainable manner by disseminating agricultural practices supporting steppe biodiversity and ensuring sustainable and ecosystem-based rangeland management. Incentive mechanisms will be established to ensure the implementation and continuity of biodiversity-friendly agricultural practices, especially in priority steppe areas and their surroundings. Moreover, the legal and administrative regulations at national level that support the conservation and sustainable management of rangelands will be strengthened.
The livelihoods of the local people who benefit from the steppes will be improved and alternative sustainable livelihoods will be promoted for the rural development in the steppe ecosystems, starting with priority steppe areas and their surroundings. Moreover, income-generating activities for local people will be supported and diversified in order to reduce the pressure on the steppes and to ensure sustainable use of the steppes, as well as to reduce poverty, with a special emphasis on nomadic families living in steppes. Socio-economic research, value chain analysis and geographical indication and studies will be conducted to increase productivity and added value of plant production and animal husbandry practices in steppes and related areas and their benefits to the local people.