Remote Sensing Survey and Forest Fire Management Training successfully completed in Antalya
16 July 2024, Antalya, Türkiye – A comprehensive workshop on Remote Sensing Survey and Integrated Forest Fire Management Training was hosted in Antalya on 8 – 12 July to strengthen the capacity and expertise of forestry professionals from Central Asian countries, Georgia and Türkiye. The workshop was organized by the General Directorate of Forestry (OGM), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
The workshop forms part of the project “Enhancing the Capacity of the Turkish International Forestry Training Centre”, which is being implemented under the FAO-Türkiye Forestry Partnership Programme. The objective of the project is to establish an International Forestry Training Centre dedicated to fostering sustainable capacity development in various fields of forestry education. The Centre will offer comprehensive training programmes to interested countries, including Türkiye, supporting the cultivation of knowledge, skills and practices essential for the preservation and sustainable management of forests. The project is due to run from March 2024 to February 2027, and has a budget of USD 1 000 000.
The first part of the workshop focused on conducting a Remote Sensing Survey. Participants received practical training on data collection and visual image interpretation, with each participant collecting data for at least 250 Remote Sensing Survey samples relevant to their country and region. As part of the workshop, a field trip to a nearby area of Antalya was also organized to evaluate the spectral properties of various land cover classes, which facilitated the image interpretation process. The data collection process utilized the Collect Earth Online platform, developed in collaboration with NASA and Google, and tailored for FRA 2025.
The second part of the workshop consisted of Integrated Forest Fire Management Training. Turkish experts conducted the training using the existing computer-based training module, field applications and a forest fire fighting training simulator. The training covered the three basic strategies of forest fire management: prevention, extinguishing and rehabilitation.
The workshop invited approximately 15 participants with field experience in forest management, agriculture or livestock management, as well as knowledge of GIS and remote sensing in forestry, conservation, rural development or agriculture, to take part. Researchers and scientists from universities or research institutes working on forest monitoring or agriculture/livestock management were also encouraged to participate. To ensure gender, nationality, background and cultural representation, FAO emphasized diversity in workshop participation with a particular focus on qualified female applicants.
By focusing on the latest remote sensing technologies and integrated forest fire management techniques, the workshop aimed to enhance participants’ ability to monitor and manage forest resources effectively. During the workshop, the participants demonstrated a willingness to pass on the knowledge and skills acquired to relevant experts in their respective countries.
About the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programmes
The objectives of the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programmes are to provide support to ensure food security, rural poverty reduction and sustainable forest management; combat desertification; and preserve ecosystems in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and other countries of mutual interest.
Established in 2007, the first phase of the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programme on Food and Agriculture (FTPP) has benefited from trust fund contributions totalling USD 10 million, financed by the Government of Türkiye and represented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. During the first phase of the programme, 28 projects were implemented in 16 countries between 2009 and 2015.
In 2014, Türkiye and FAO commenced the second phase of the FTPP along with the first phase of the FAO-Türkiye Forestry Partnership Programme (FTFP) with additional funding of USD 20 million, bringing Türkiye’s total contribution to USD 30 million.
LINKS:
· FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programmes