Climate, Nature & Culture, News

🌍 Conserving Patara Special Environmental Protected Area 🌿

As a consultant to the International Union for Conservation of Nature - Center for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN MED), Yolda Initiative has been tasked with developing the management and action plan for the Patara Special Environmental Protected Area (SEPA) in Antalya, Türkiye. This area is a pilot site within the framework of the Mediterranean-level RESCOM project. 🐠 Patara SEPA is a site of exceptional ecological, cultural and archaeological value. Its unique multi-biome ecosystems and rich historical significance highlight the critical need for sustainable management to protect its natural values and cultural heritage for future generations.
Continue reading
Climate, Mobile Pastoralism, Nature & Culture, News, Small-Scale Fisheries

Yolda contributes to the to multiple objectives of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters”.

We are proud to announce that our Saros Bay Conservation and Restoration Planning Project has received endorsement from the European Commission as playing a central role in contributing to multiple objectives of the EU Mission "Restore our Ocean and Waters". This endorsement not only strengthens our commitment to protecting and restoring this ecologically and culturally rich area along Turkey’s Aegean coast but also highlights the importance of our project in driving transformative change in the Mediterranean. It integrates our work into the broader European commitment to marine #conservation and #sustainability.
Continue reading
Nature & Culture, News

Inspirador for Possible Cities: How the Mediterranean is Looking After its Biodiversity 

Our colleague Burcu Ateş was featured in Goethe Institut’s online magazine Zeitgeister, discussing cultural landscapes and sustainable land use practices. She highlighted the connection between rural biodiversity conservation and urban life quality, drawing examples from mobile pastoralism and the Alliance for Mediterranean Nature and Culture. The interview is part of the "Inspirador" project promoting sustainable cities worldwide.
Continue reading
Nature & Culture, News

Cultural Landscapes Conference

Over three days of the Cultural Landscapes Conference, we explored the cultural landscapes approach, focusing on climate crisis mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and rural livelihoods' empowerment. AMNC partners shared their work's outcomes, fostering knowledge exchange and building new collaborations for future conservation efforts in the Mediterranean.
Continue reading
Nature & Culture, News

Cultural Landscapes Conference

We’re excited to announce the upcoming Cultural Landscapes Conference, which will showcase and upscale the cultural landscapes approach and the results of AMNC’s regional work. It will highlight the cultural landscapes approach, regional achievements of AMNC, and foster future conservation collaborations in the Mediterranean, while celebrating the MAVA's legacy.
Continue reading
Nature & Culture, News

Living Together with Nature

As part of our joint initiative "Living Together with Nature," we organized our first event in Beypazarı İnözü Valley on October 27, targeting Afghan refugee children. Alongside partners like Yolda Initiative, World Home International Solidarity Association, and Hacettepe University's Functional Ecology Lab, we explored nature, collecting leaves, seeds, and learning about the environment.
Continue reading