Şanlıurfa Steppe Conservation Strategy and Action Plan 2021-2030.

Şanlıurfa Steppe Conservation Strategy and Action Plan is prepared by Nature Conservation Centre within the scope of the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Turkey’s Steppe Ecosystems Project which is carried out collaboratively by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, General Directorate of Plant Production, and General Directorate of Forestry with the financial support of the Global Environment Facility. The timeframe of this policy is 10 years between 2021 and 2030. The strategic goals of this policy are: (I) development of a governance and collaboration structure for effective management of Şanlıurfa steppes, (II) conservation of Şanlıurfa steppe biodiversity, (III) improvement of the use of resources in Şanlıurfa steppes within the framework of the sustainability principle, and (IV) improvement of the livelihoods of the local people who benefit from Şanlıurfa steppes.
This policy lays down short-, medium- and long-term actions to ensure the conservation, effective management and optimum use of Şanlıurfa steppes. A Coordination Board will be established under the Governorship to ensure the active participation of all interest groups in the decision-making processes regarding the steppes in order to implement, monitor, and evaluate the Şanlıurfa Steppe Conservation Strategy and Action Plan. The priorities of the policy will be implemented and monitored by means of regional development plans, institutional and sectoral plans and programs. Good practices will be supported and disseminated for the conservation of steppes and sustainable use of natural resources throughout Şanlıurfa. In order to observe biodiversity in investments in the province and to monitor its integration into the necessary permit processes, data and results of the studies on Şanlıurfa steppes will be shared with the relevant institutions. Inventory, monitoring and evaluation studies will be carried out to increase the surface area of protected areas including priority steppe areas in Şanlıurfa. The impacts of the activities on the species representing the vegetation of priority steppe habitats in Şanlıurfa will be monitored effectively in cooperation with relevant institutions and other stakeholders. Furthermore, ecological assessment will be made prior to the afforestation efforts planned in Şanlıurfa steppe ecosystems. Ecological corridors will be determined in Şanlıurfa steppes and detailed ecological research will be conducted on steppe ecosystems. Conservation measures will be implemented for priority steppe areas and priority steppe species in cooperation with relevant institutions and other stakeholders to achieve effective protection in these areas. Species action plans will be developed, with priority given to steppe-specific species.
The cooperation with local people will be strengthened and their awareness will be raised to effectively combat illegal hunting. Research will be conducted on traditional knowledge and new methods, techniques and practices that support the conservation of steppe biodiversity and sustainable use of its resources. Plant and animal species that may be important in terms of genetic resource quality in Şanlıurfa steppes will be identified, their genetic resources will be registered and updated periodically. Ex-situ conservation of rare, narrow-range priority steppe plant species in Şanlıurfa will be strengthened, taking into account their population and threats to the habitat and gene banks and botanical gardens will be established in the province. Modelling and evaluation studies will be conducted for determining the effects of climate change on Şanlıurfa steppe ecosystems and the ecosystem services they provide, and adaptation recommendations will be developed in coordination with existing studies for the species, areas and ecosystem services that will be most affected by climate change. Awareness and training activities will be carried out regularly for different interest groups, including children, youth, women, farmers, shepherds, etc. on the value and biodiversity of the steppes. In addition to that, guides on steppe plants collected and used extensively by the local people will be prepared and relevant educational activities will be carried out.
Environmentally-friendly agricultural practices will be promoted in the steppes of Şanlıurfa through the establishment of model support programs. The incentives will be prioritized for existing agricultural practices to support biodiversity in protected areas in Şanlıurfa. The support for organic and good agriculture will be increased and cooperation with leading farmers will be strengthened for this purpose. Incentive programs will be established for the reduction of insecticide and herbicide use by using integrated pest control methods in the agricultural lands around the priority steppe areas in Şanlıurfa. Best practices will be disseminated for holistic grazing management for sustainable and restorative rangeland management.
The establishment of unions, associations, cooperatives and especially women's cooperatives in rural production in steppes and related fields will be encouraged and supported. Socio-economic studies will be conducted taking into consideration gender equality perspective to increase the productivity and added value of the local people benefiting from the Şanlıurfa steppes in plant production and livestock practices. Technical capacity and training activities will be implemented for prioritized livelihoods, and on-site training activities will be conducted for women, especially considering the roles of women in the family. Informative and geographical indication studies will be carried out for the protection of biodiversity-friendly production and lifestyles, ecological and cultural values associated with steppes. Existing strategies and practices to improve the livelihoods of the local people and nomads benefiting from the steppe will be included in the regional development programs and incentive mechanisms. In addition to that, rural development supports will be diversified for smallholders/family farmers, especially women and youth. In order to reduce poverty, alternative income sources will be determined, and livelihood diversification practices will be supported.