As part of our ongoing project on small-scale fisheries, we conducted fieldwork in İzmir, focusing on mapping fishing areas and categorizing methods. We explored traditional techniques, like the Turkish blanket net, alongside innovative practices such as digital fish marketing. Challenges remain due to the lack of a regional fisheries approach in current legislation.
A Fieldwork with Small Scale Fisheries in Edremit Bay
As part of our “Cultural Landscapes-based Assessment” project, we conducted fieldwork in Edremit Bay, visiting fishing areas and engaging with small-scale fishers and stakeholders. Key concerns include the impacts of industrial fishing on biodiversity and the lack of localized fishing regulations. We aim to address these challenges through multi-actor conservation strategies.
A Cultural Landscapes-based Assessment: Coexistence of Nature and Culture on the Aegean coast of Turkey
Our project, “A Cultural Landscapes-based Assessment: Coexistence of Nature and Culture on the Aegean coast of Turkey,” maps traditional practices that sustainably coexist with high biodiversity areas. Supported by the Turquoise Coast Environment Fund-Turkey, it includes fieldwork and stakeholder meetings to address local challenges and foster collaboration.
New article: Pastoralism in the high Himalayas: Understanding changing practices and their implications for parasite transmission between livestock and wildlife
A new peer-reviewed article, supported by Yolda Initiative, explores human-wildlife conflict in the High Himalayas. It focuses on potential disease transmission between migratory and resident livestock and Asiatic ibex. The study advocates participatory disease management with pastoralists to align livelihoods with wildlife conservation, promoting proactive, sustainable solutions over mobility restrictions.
Inspirador for Possible Cities: How the Mediterranean is Looking After its Biodiversity
Our colleague Burcu Ateş was featured in Goethe Institut’s online magazine Zeitgeister, discussing cultural landscapes and sustainable land use practices. She highlighted the connection between rural biodiversity conservation and urban life quality, drawing examples from mobile pastoralism and the Alliance for Mediterranean Nature and Culture. The interview is part of the “Inspirador” project promoting sustainable cities worldwide.
Vultures and Mobile Pastoralism Workshop
The Regional Workshop on Mobile Pastoralism and Vultures, held in North Macedonia, brought together pastoralists and conservationists from the Balkans. Organized by Yolda Initiative and partners, it fostered dialogue to address human-wildlife conflict, set priorities, and co-create solutions to reduce vulture deaths.