Biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services

Turkey hosts a large array of fragile natural habitats that result from the merging of the Eurasian continent biodiversity. Restricted range, endemic, and threatened species call for urgent site-level actions so that their risk of extinction can be halted.

Extensive mountain systems, closed water basins, micro-climatic conditions and the encirclement by three seas have resulted in high terrestrial, marine and freshwater diversity in Turkey. As such, Turkey is home to 1.500 species of vertebrates, 19.000 of invertebrates and 11.000 species of native vascular plants, of which more than 30% are endemic. Turkey also has a wide marine biodiversity, with the presence of endangered species such as the Mediterranean monk seal and the loggerhead marine turtle.

We fund projects addressing marine, coastal and terrestrial conservation while also considering the impact of economic activities on all ecosystem components. We promote holistic, cross-sectoral, bottom-up, transparent, adaptive, inclusive, and participatory management of fisheries and other
resources. We also look for approaches that help restore our agroecosystems, forests, wetlands, coastal and marine ecosystems, and soil.

Cross-cutting issues:

A set of cross-cutting themes apply and re-enforce the other thematic intervention areas such as issues related to freshwater systems, climate change, invasive alien species, social inclusion, environmental education, and awareness raising, among others.

We fund projects that broaden the scientific base of knowledge about the biodiversity in the marine environment (e.g., studies on spatial distribution of key marine species and habitats), as well as underwater habitat mapping.

TCEF particularly welcomes projects that promote knowledge-sharing and best practices to replicate successful initiatives and that highlight the importance of understanding our marine and coastal world in order to maximize the benefits to nature and society.