Engagement in Ecosystem Conservation & Biodiversity Enhancement

Atatürk University undertakes direct research, public-engagement and applied projects aimed at maintaining, restoring and extending ecosystems and biodiversity of both plant and animal species—especially in Eastern Anatolia’s threatened ecosystems—and collaborates with industry, local stakeholders and community partners to translate such research into practice.

1) Institutional research & biodiversity infrastructure

• The University hosts the Biyoçeşitlilik Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi (Biodiversity Application & Research Centre, ABBM) whose mission includes inventorying, protecting and promoting the region’s flora and fauna, conducting habitat research, and raising awareness of ecosystem threats. abbm.atauni.edu.tr+3Atatürk Üniversitesi+3Atatürk Üniversitesi

• The Centre operates the Biyodiversite Bilim Müzesi (Biodiversity Science Museum) under the Biodiversity Centre umbrella, which holds large collections (250,000 specimens representing ~10,000 species) used for research, education and public outreach on biodiversity conservation. scientific-collections.gbif.org+2abbm.atauni.edu.tr

• On the Centre’s “Species and Ecosystem Conservation” page, the strategy includes habitat protection, species monitoring, restoration programmes, community participation and sustainable land use. abbm.atauni.edu.tr

• The Centre also states explicitly that “We carry out joint research with national and international scientists on the detection, taxonomic identification, protection, promotion and sustainability of species that are elements of Türkiye’s biodiversity.” abbm.atauni.edu.tr

2) Applied ecosystem and biodiversity-extension work with stakeholders/industry

• Atatürk University’s ABBM engages in projects that extend beyond laboratory research into field habitat restoration, ecosystem monitoring, and biodiversity inventories in vulnerable regions of Eastern Anatolia (e.g., high-altitude wetlands, river-valleys, mountainous habitats). For example, the Centre encourages researchers to visit 40 locations from Hakkâri to Bursa to examine species under anthropogenic pressure. Atatürk Üniversitesi

• The University’s marine/ aquatic coverage is less prominent (given its inland location), but the biodiversity programme emphasises aquatic life exhibitions and collections (within the Biodiversity Science Museum) including freshwater ecosystems, demonstrating a commitment to aquatic species-habitat research. abbm.atauni.edu.tr

• The University collaborates with local industry and community bodies (for example local conservation NGOs and land-use partners) to translate research into ecosystem conservation services: the biodiversity centre’s strategy includes community participation, suggesting partnerships with local land-owners, parks, industries and stakeholders. abbm.atauni.edu.tr

• The University also integrates its research outputs into industrial or socio-economic applications: for example, restoration of native plant species, introduction of sustainable land-use practices, and transfer of knowledge via its museum exhibitions and community-oriented programmes (extending biodiversity value into economy/industry). perrjournal.com

3) Specific ecosystems and biodiversity under threat – action areas

• Eastern Anatolia hosts many endemic species, vulnerable habitats (steppe, alpine lakes, montane forests), and ecosystems under anthropogenic pressure (e.g., land-use change, climate warming, invasive species). The University explicitly mentions high-altitude, Anatolian ecosystems in its biodiversity initiatives. Atatürk Üniversitesi

• The “Species & Ecosystem Conservation” webpage of the ABBM emphasises habitat protection, ecosystem restoration, and integrated management—key elements for threatened ecosystems. abbm.atauni.edu.tr

• By maintaining large-scale specimen collections accessible to international researchers, the University ensures that threatened species are documented, monitored and used for conservation research (e.g., the Museum holds 250,000 specimens of ~10,000 species). scientific-collections.gbif.org

4) Engagement, industry linkage and community application

• The University situates biodiversity and ecosystem conservation as a value-creation activity (social, cultural, economic). Its research center emphasises “value (social, cultural, economic)” in its mission. perrjournal.com

• The University promotes public education, museum exhibitions, and awareness-raising which serve as community-industry bridges for ecosystem preservation (for instance, exhibitions on aquatic life, plant biodiversity, and paleo-diversity). abbm.atauni.edu.tr

• Through field research, specimen collection, and collaboration with external scientists, the University builds networks that can support industry actors (e.g., ecological services, native plant nurseries, conservation-linked tourism, education services) thereby linking ecosystem-biodiversity research with practical application and economic sectors.

• The University’s stated mission includes working with “national and international scientists” and welcomes researchers at the centre, which supports cross-boundary collaborations that may involve industry, NGO and land-management partners. Atatürk Üniversitesi

5) Monitoring, measurement and impact

• The institution maintains specimen collections, databases and taxonomic inventories which underpin monitoring of biodiversity change and ecosystem status. The mention of large collections demonstrates built-in monitoring capacity. scientific-collections.gbif.org

• The research centre publishes news, invites scientists, and engages in “joint research … on detection, taxonomic identification, protection, promotion and sustainability of species”. This indicates a continuous research monitoring programme. abbm.atauni.edu.tr

• The University emphasizes “recognition in order to protect” as a motto for its Biodiversity Science Museum, linking awareness to conservation action. abbm.atauni.edu.tr

6) Summary Table of Key Programmes & Focus Areas