Turkey’s Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change is developing a nationwide plant guide to help fight climate change, desertification, and erosion, while promoting greener urban spaces.
Minister Murat Kurum revealed that the initiative will create a detailed catalog of local plant species, organized by climate and ecological characteristics. This will assist cities in selecting the best plants for urban landscaping.
The project, named the “Natural Plant Guide for Urban Landscaping,” is led by the General Directorate of Combating Desertification and Erosion. “We are creating a plant guide for all 81 provinces, documenting the local species based on their environmental conditions,” said Kurum. “This will help us green Turkey in a way that is consistent with the natural environment.”
The first phase of the guide focuses on the provinces in Central Anatolia and Southeastern Anatolia. By the end of the year, guides for five additional regions will be completed. The goal is to support municipalities in selecting native plants that are well-suited to the local climate, particularly those that are drought-resistant and climate-resilient.
With over 12,000 plant species, including 3,000 endemic varieties, Turkey plans to promote the use of plants that require less water, especially in urban settings.
Kasım Yenigün, Director General of the Desertification and Erosion Combat Department, explained, “We aim to find plants that are well-suited to the local climate and consume minimal water. This strategy will help ensure the long-term success of urban green projects.”
This guide is expected to play a key role in creating more sustainable and resilient cities across Turkey, by helping municipalities develop green spaces that fit the local environmental conditions.
