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U.S. tech company Amazon is providing €1.5 million ($1.74 million) to help restore ecosystems and strengthen rural communities in southern Türkiye, backing a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) initiative focused on areas damaged by the devastating earthquakes in February 2023.
The project aligns with restoration priorities set by the General Directorate of Forestry under Türkiye’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, aiming to repair environmental damage while creating economic opportunities and improving disaster resilience in affected communities.
The initiative focuses on habitat restoration as its central goal, supported by nature-based solutions designed to rebuild ecological balance and strengthen local economies.
Depending on technical feasibility assessments, planned measures include constructing artificial wetlands for wastewater treatment, installing rainwater harvesting systems, promoting sustainable compost production, planting seedlings, and establishing community seed banks.
These efforts aim to restore about 200 hectares (494 acres) of land. In parallel, Türkiye’s General Directorate of Forestry will rehabilitate an additional 250 hectares through afforestation, erosion control, and ecosystem restoration activities.
Officials said the combined efforts are intended to repair environmental damage while improving resilience among ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
Bekir Karacabey, director general of forestry, said climate-related disaster preparedness has become more urgent following the 2023 earthquakes.
"Preparation for climate-driven disasters is more critical than ever," he said, adding that working in harmony with nature helps strengthen rural communities and improve resilience.
UNDP Türkiye Deputy Resident Representative Miodrag Dragisic said nature-based solutions play a key role in rebuilding affected areas.
"Nature projects are at the center of the ‘build back better’ approach," he said, adding that Amazon’s support will help address environmental threats facing forest villages.
Amazon Türkiye Retail General Manager Burak Erdem said the company has maintained its support since launching emergency aid immediately after the earthquakes.
"Today, we are taking that support one step further by investing in Türkiye’s long-term future," he said, adding that the project will help restore forests while creating sustainable income opportunities.
The February 2023 disaster affected over 20% of the country’s agricultural production, while soil deformation, liquefaction, and damaged water and sanitation systems contributed to environmental degradation.
Large volumes of debris and untreated wastewater increased risks to soil and water quality, while forest areas, farmland, and rural habitats faced long-term ecological stress, affecting both biodiversity and communities dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods.
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