NGOs meet in Ankara ahead of COP31 and issue a joint call to tackle land degradation

Joint Call Against Land Destruction: NGOs Met in Ankara Before COP31

1. ANKARA – The “Regional Participation for Balancing Land Degradation” workshop, organized within the scope of the “Regional Engagement for Land Degradation Neutrality (RE-LDN)” project carried out by Bilge Nesil Green Forest School Association with the support of the Global Environment Fund Small Support Program (SGP), was held in Ankara.

In the workshop held at Akar International Hotel, the effects of desertification, land destruction and drought on ecosystems, agriculture and water security were discussed, while common working areas and cooperation opportunities of non-governmental organizations were evaluated before the UNFCCC COP31 Climate Summit to be held in Antalya in November 2026.

In the organization attended by representatives of public institutions and many non-governmental organizations accredited to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), solution proposals for adaptation to climate change, balancing land degradation and sustainable land management were discussed.

Hasan Taşkın, Chairman of UCWEP, who was among the speakers of the workshop, drew attention to the role of digital media in conveying environmental problems to the public.

Stating that environmental news should be prepared with a solution-oriented approach, not only disaster-oriented, Taşkın emphasized the importance of journalism based on scientific data in the fight against disinformation.

Taşkın said, “As vital as the physical struggle in the field is, it is also important to bring this struggle to the society. Awareness is strengthened when we support scientific data with human stories and visual content. Because accurate information is the land that is saved.” he said.

Sharing his projects for the future in his speech, Taşkın stated that they aim to create an artificial intelligence-supported green data portal, establish a network of young environmental reporters and provide free communication support to UNCCD accredited non-governmental organizations on international digital media visibility.

The workshop was held under the coordination of Project Leader Mustafa Çetin. Many institutions and organizations participated in the program, including the General Directorate of Combating Desertification and Erosion, the General Directorate of Forestry, the General Directorate of Agricultural Reform, the TEMA Foundation, the Nature Conservation Center (DKM), the Turkish Foresters Association and the Aegean Forest Foundation.

Participants stated that the cooperation process initiated in Ankara will contribute to the creation of a common and strong representation of Turkish civil society at the UNFCCC COP31 Climate Summit to be held in Antalya in November.