The Kick-Off Conference took place in Saklıbahçe/Söğütözü, Ankara – TURKEY from 3rd to 6th May 2004. It included four parts:

1. Pre-afternoon session,

2. Official Kick-off meeting (opening, press conference and political part),

3. Scientific Kick-off workshop

4. Site visits.

The conference was held in English and Turkish. Simultaneous translation was provided. The pre-afternoon session at 3rd May comprised two speeches each about 45 minutes. At first Mr. Prof. Dr. Hartmut Vogtmann (President of the Federal Agency of Nature Conservation) spoke about “The Importance of Ecological Farming for Nature Conservation”. He gave an overview about ecological farming and the relation to nature conservation and the importance for a modern integrated concept of nature conservation. 

Secondly, Mrs. Prof. Dr. Beate Jessel (University of Potsdam, Institute of Geoecology) spoke about “From Wilderness Areas to Cultural Landscapes – Strategies of Nature Conservation and their Implementations in Protected Sites". She gave an overview about the different types of protected sites and their functions in a nationwide system of protected areas. She outlined the problems with the establishment and development of different types of protected areas.

At the 2nd day of the workshop (4th May) Minister Mr. Osman Pepe (Minister of Environment and Forest, Turkey) together with Mr. Prof. Dr. Hartmut Vogtmann (President of the Federal Agency of Nature Conservation, Germany) and Vincent Rey (Vice Head of the European Commission Representation, Ankara – ECR) opened the Twinning project and gave a short overview about the actual situation in Turkey, the relationship between Turkey, Germany and EC.

After the introduction a press conference took place with the Turkish press, several agencies and journalists. After lunch the speakers focused on information about the project, the activities of the related authorities and departments. Also the NGO´s presented their work and explained the new publication about IBA sites in Turkey. The Headlines in detail were:

• Mr. Yrd. Doc. Dr. Nuri Uslu (Ass. Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry): “Expectations of Turkey from the Twinning Project, TR02-EN-01”

• Mr. Jürgen Keinhorst (Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of the Federal Republic of Germany, Head of Department Co-operation with Central and Eastern European Countries and New Independence States): “Co-operation between Germany and Turkey in the field of environment”

• Mrs. Anja Jenichen (Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of the Federal Republic of Germany, German Twinning Project Leader): “Twinning as an Instrument for Institution Building, Experiences of the German Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety”

• Mr. Dr. Ulf Hauke (Federal Agency of Nature Conservation, Pre-Accession Advisor): “Presentation of the Twinning Project”

• Mr. Alistair Gammell (Director of Royal Society for the Protection of Birds – RSPB): “The History of the EU Birds and Habitat Directives”

• Mrs. Güneşin Aydemir (Doğa Derneği, President): “The works of Doğa Derneği in the field EU”

• Mr. Dr Jose Tavares (RSPB International Department, Country Programme Manager): “IBAs, Natura 2000 sites and EU Member States“

• Mr. Szabolcs Nagy (IBA’s and Natura 2000, European Conservation Manager – Birdlife –): “EU Accession and Birds Directive – Experience of other East European countries“

During the scientific workshop at the 5th of May the speakers outlined different aspects of nature conservation, such as the role of Turkey for the biodiversity in the world, education, CITES implementation, site management and implementation of Natura 2000. The speeches were followed by discussions.

• Mr. Prof. Dr. Michael Succow (University of Greifswald, Botanical Institute): “Role of Ecosystems in Turkey for International Nature Conservation”

• Mrs. Reyhan Akarsu (Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Head of Nature Conservation Department): “Overview of the General Structure of Natural Conservation in Turkey”

• Mr. Dr. Hans Dieter Knapp (Federal Agency of Nature Conservation, Head of the International Academy of Nature Conservation, Vilm): “Activities of the International Academy of Nature Conservation, Vilm”

• Mr. Ramazan Dikyar (Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Head of National Parks Department): “The Implementation of the 2873 numbered National Parks Law by the National Parks Department”

• Mr. Yaşar Türkleş (Ministry of Environment and Forestry Head of Hunting and Wildlife Department): “The Implementation of the 4915 numbered Land Hunting Law by the Hunting–Wildlife Department”

• Mr. Dietmar Weihrich (Head of Landscape Planning and Development, Saxony-Anhalt, State Agency for Environmental Conservation): “Implementation of NATURA 2000”

• Mr. Levent Keskin (Özel Çevre Koruma– Authority of Protected Special Areas, APSA): “Introduction of APSA and its Role in the Twinning Project”

• Mr. Prof. Dr. Türker Altan (Çukurova University – Adana): “LIFE Project” “LIFE Çukurova Deltası Biyosfer Rezervi Planlaması Projesi Biyotop Haritalama Çalışmaları”

• Mr. Dr. Harald Martens (Federal Agency of Nature Conservation, Head of unit Wildlife Conservation): "CITES – An Introduction from the German point of view”

• Mr. Prof. Dr. Ali Demirsoy (TÜBITAK): “CITES Implementations in Turkey”

• Mr. Cemil Ün (Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Head of Photogrametry Department): “Monitoring of Biodiversity Studies”

• Mr. Osman Erdem: “The Role and Expectations of NGO’s from the Twinning Project”

At the end of this kick-off workshop (6^th May) an excursion to some exciting places near to Ankara took place. Participants: Dr. Knapp (STE), Dr. Weihrich (STE), Mr. Woernle (STE),  Ms. Sibel Şenel, Mrs. Beyza Özcan, Mr. Bahtiyar Kurt, Mr. Güven Eken, Mr. İlker Sel (PAA Tecnical Assistant), Mrs. Tuba Yaldız, Mr. Levent Keskin, Dr. Ulf Hauke (PAA)

During the full day excursion the IBA site "Kulu Lake", the IBA site "Tuz Lake" and the IBA sites "Uyuz Lake" were visited. In intensive discussions the following questions were treated:

• Protection of these sites

• Integration of the stakeholder in the strategy of protection

• Conflicts between land users/owners and nature protection, esp. bird protection

• Perspectives of the development of these areas

• Development of management plans

• Integration of the bordering areas, esp. gypsum steppes habitats

• Protection of endemic plants and endangered species

• Further cooperation between the Twinning project and the NGO´s of Turkey

Notice: During the meeting the new IBA-handbook of Turkey and the internet database about birds (Kuşbank) were presented by the NGO Doğa Derneği in collaboration with BirdLife International.