Farms and communities in Turkey’s Anatolian steppe will soon have help in coping with the damaging impacts of climate change. A two-year, $3 million FAO project – co-financed by the European Union and Turkey – aims to restore healthy ecosystems, promote environmentally friendly agricultural practices, and raise levels of knowledge among government institutions.

Steppe ecosystems today are facing serious challenges, such as soil erosion, overgrazing, over-collection of valuable plant species, intensive farming, unplanned urbanization, and incorrect forestation practices. The steppe regions of Central and Eastern Anatolia host a rich variety of endemic plant species, but there is no overarching initiative to protect biodiversity.

The new project, signed in late-2015 and set to commence next month, is a firm attempt to reverse these negative trends and help farmers deal with climate change effects such as drying wetlands, rising temperatures, early onset of spring, increased climate variability, and more frequent pest outbreaks.