What is a Nature Reserve?

In its simplest definition, a nature reserve is the name given to certain areas where nature is protected by legal regulations. Why are nature reserves are needed? In recent years, we have become familiar with the term ‘biological diversity’. Many researches point out that there is a big decrease in biological diversity as a result of the contraction of natural areas throughout world with agriculture, industry and urbanization.

And the main reason for the biological diversity loss is us. Global warming due to human activities and fossil fuel consumption disrupts the ecological balance. All economic systems around the world are based on fossil fuel consumption. When fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) are burned, greenhouse gas emissions that build up in the atmosphere lead to global warming. Global warming, on the other hand, continues to threaten unique ecosystems. The climate crisis caused by global warming is also accelerating this collapse.

Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) published a critical report in 2019. According to this report, one million living species are endangered in the world today. Similar to this report, the WWF's 2020 Living Planet Report also underlines the same problem. The report points out that there has been a 68% decrease in the populations of vertebrate creatures in the last 50 years.

So what is a nature reserve? Can it reverse the biodiversity loss caused by global warming? How should we protect our ecosystems? Keep reading for the answers!

Definition of Nature Reserve

Nature reserve is the name given to the areas where the natural environment is protected. It is also called a nature reserve area. Protected areas aim to protect endangered ecosystems.

Nature reserves can also be defined as ‘areas determined by legal regulations in order to ensure that scientifically accepted natural and cultural values, especially biological diversity, can continue to exist in the long term’. This broad definition does not cover only animal species, but considers ecosystems as a whole. In short, nature reserves should be subject to legal regulations for the protection of unique ecological balances.

Nature reserves are of great importance for the survival of ecosystems that are under threat. On an international scale, why are nature reserves are important?

A Brief History of Nature Reserves

In 1992, almost 200 countries adopted the Convention on Biological Diversity at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio. However, the efforts made in the name of nature conservation since 1992 have not been enough. ‘Aichi Targets’, which were added to the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2010, were an international demand to accelerate these studies until 2020. Unfortunately, the Aichi goals were not achieved between the years 2010 and 020.

In addition, since 1992, the use of fossil fuels, population growth, and global warming have all increased. WWF says that the year 2030 is our last chance to leave a livable world to future generations. Although it is still not too late to comply with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework set by the United Nations and to take measures, our time is running out. It is of great importance that the Sustainable Development Goals are implemented rapidly within the cooperation of institutions, states, civil society and academia. The greatest amount of nature must be conserved, and 'greening' initiatives must be stepped up. Moreover, measures need to be taken in order to protect biodiversity and the implementation of the sustainable development goals.

That is why nature reserve areas are of great importance. Some ecosystems that are threatened by human activity should be declared as special areas and put under conservation. The supervision of nature reserve areas and the prohibition of status changes are critical for the protection of ecosystems.

Nature Reserves in Turkey

The Mediterranean basin has unique riches in terms of species and habitat diversity. Turkey, on the other hand, is one of the countries with the most diverse ecosystems in the Mediterranean region. But according to official data, as of the year 2020, the total net size of our protected areas is 67.773 km2 and the ratio of 8.7% to the country's surface area.

National parks, nature parks and various nature reserves in Turkey are defined as ‘nature reserves. According to the article 2 of the National Parks Law, national parks, nature parks, nature monuments and natural conservation areas are designated as ‘nature reserves’. There are 31 areas available in Turkey that are designated as a 'natural conservation area'. Camili-Efeler Forest in Artvin, Alacdag in Antalya and Kartal Lake in Mugla can be given as examples.

Are the Nature Reserves in Turkey Adequate?

n its study ‘If We Don't Preserve, We Lose’, WWF states that the existing protected areas are inadequate. The study suggests expanding protected areas and notes that Turkey's rich ecosystem variety is not accurately reflected. Moreover, the study adds that the current legislation and institutional structure create an authority confusion. The study also notes that status changes in nature reserves are risky. It is of great importance to prevent the use of nature reserves for purposes such as mining, agriculture and energy. It turns out that human activity in existing nature reserves should be prevented as per the legal framework, and existing areas should also be expanded. Moreover, it is necessary to improve the administrative infrastructure of protected areas in Turkey and to increase the institutional capacity to a universal level.

What Are The Proposed Solutions?

Experts suggests that more ‘nature reserves’ should be created in Turkey by 2030, and the management of these nature reserves should be fortified. A framework Nature Conservation Law in line with the European Union nature conservation directives shall be established. It is emphasized that while legal regulations are prepared, it is necessary to proceed within the framework of principles that are open to stakeholder participation, scientific, transparent and inclusive.

It is not sufficient to increase the numbers of nature reserves in Turkey. A fragmented institutional structure reform is also very valuable. It is important to unite institutions such as the General Directorate for the Protection of Natural Assets and the General Directorate of Nature Conservation under one roof. Hence, possible confusions in the areas of jurisdiction can be eliminated and the tracking of protected areas can be facilitated. In this way, it becomes possible to prevent authority confusions.

In order to protect the unique ecosystems in Turkey, local government-civil society-academy-state relations should also be strengthened. Nature reserves function more effectively when decision-making mechanisms are managed with a multi-stakeholder structure. In order to do so, qualified personnel should be trained. Having more financial and administrative opportunities appears as another point to highlight.

However, the most significant problem we face is the onset of status changes in protected areas. A change of status needs to be avoided. That is why effective legal protection is a must.

What Should We Do to Protect the Unique Ecosystems in Turkey?

As part of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the umbrella organization for nature conservation worldwide, it is very important to move forward by taking the Convention on Biological Diversity, which was adopted in 1992, as a roadmap. Turkey's unique ecosystems are currently in danger. Every day, plant and animal species extinct. In order to protect the unique natural reserves in Turkey, it is essential that all stakeholders take action with common sense.

2030 is considered our last chance to preserve these unique ecosystems. Everything we do over the next few years is really significant. We must begin taking actions immediately to protect nature in the most effective way possible and to pass on Turkey's uniqueness to future generations.