THE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION OF RURAL ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTRY (RAREF)  

The Research Association of Rural Environment and Forestry (RAREF) was established in 1989. Its area of interest and study field is conducting research on "determination and and solution of problems of the rural environment (primarily deforestation) and to create public opinion in parallel to findings of the research conducted." RAREF, which believes trees and forests are popular in the public, but this spontaneous popularity should be supported by education and be transfonned into consciousnes, has members from almost every occupational group.


Activities in progress this year (2008):

• The Dendrology School will be arranged in May and Forest Ecology School will be arranged in September.
• Rural Environment Annual -2007 was published including articles on scientific and social issues on rural environment.
• Participation and contribution in a number of workshops, seminars, panels organized by other institutions.
• The project named as "Project for Development of Methodology and Extension Studies for Multi-Purpose Forestry and Its Use in Wide Range" is going to be commenced as granted by UNDP-GEF-SGP. 
• The project named as "Promotion of Forest Ecosystems under Conservation in the Black-Sea Region"  is going to be commenced as granted by CEPF.

Past Activities of the association can be summarized as follows:

• Contribution to Joint Press Declaration of 15 volunteer and vocational organisations against the draft clauses for Constitution on forestry and environmental issues (Oct 2007).
  
• Project under the title of “Determination and Prevention of Economic, Social, Cultural and Technical Reasons Which May Give Harm to High-Mountain Ecosystems in the East Black Sea Region” granted by CEPF (The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund) and its publication were realized (2007). Please push to read the Final Project Report
• An appeal to court to stop the execution of the decree by Ministry to allow mining, industrial and touristic investments and construction in the forest areas (2007)
• An appeal to court to stop the execution of the decree by Ministry to leave certain forest areas out of forestry administration as per clause 2A of the Forest Law (2007).
• Appeal to Court against closing up and decree of the Ministry allocation of 39 public units of forest plantation to other purposes than forestry. The court confirmed our demand and cancelled the Ministry’s decision but the Ministry executed his decision in contrary to the Court (2004-2007).
• An appeal to court to stop the execution of the decree by Ministry of Forest for allocation of forestry seeding/plantation area in Kony city to third parties for other purposes than forestry. (The court had decided to stop similar decisions of the Ministry of Forest last year upon our appeal. However all court decisions are neglected by the Government) (2006)
• Research reports titled "Soil Erosion Exhausts Turkey" were published.
• Books titled "Training Notes on Dendrology and Forest Ecology" (2003) and "Training Notes on Soil Ecology" were published.
• A project to set up a "Children's Forest" in an area nearby Social services and Child Services Organization establishment in Saray, Ankara, was prepeared and nursling for the first batch was realized.
• The "Democracy Forest" was set up at the 30th. km. of Ankara-Eskişehir road and plantation for the first batch was realized.
• "Stop Erosion !" Campaign, which consisted of the following activities, was performed: i) walking from İstanbul to Ankara (455 km), ii). printing and distributing 12 000 posters, iii) delivering 2 TV and 18 radio speeches, iv) photograph exhibition, v) collecting 23 000 signatures to support the campaign.
• "Draft Law on Soil Protection and Land Improvement" was prepared and submitted to the President of The Turkish Grand National Assembly.
• Numerous papers were submitted to panels, congress and symposiums; panels and symposiums were organized and slide shows were performed.
• Numerous radio programs on various aspects of our area of interest were prepared.
• A "Green Requests Campaign" with the objective of warning mayor candidates of the provinces and the districts were carried out.
• "Dendrology and Forest Ecology School" (1992-) (Environment Liasion Center Intemational- ELCI): A training program on "Dendrology and Forest Ecology" was repeated 8 times in Ankara, 3 times in Istanbul, 2 times in B o drum, and 1 time in Foça and Fethiye; excursions including practical application have been arranged. Since 1996 upto now, this school , has been organized with RAREF's own resources.
• "Soil Ecology School" (1994-1996) A training program on "Soil Ecology" was repeated 5 times in Ankara; excursions including practical application was arranged.
• "The Research Project for Forest Ecosystem Conservation and Development in Camili and Karagöl (Artvin)" (United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization-1994) A master project with ecological, economical, and social aspects, to develop subprojects to create a sustainable forest ecosystem with rare characteristics in Artvin, was realized with a financial support granted by FAO.
• "Applied Soil Conservation and Land Improvment Training" (UNDP GEF / NGO Small Grants Programme-1994). Objectives of the project, were: i) to prove that employment of a relatively low cost techniques are possible, ii) to improve a model with proper means for the participation of local people and application of a model in a region, iii) communicate the results obtained to the public.
• "Activities for Enhancing Public Awareness on the Protection of the Black Sea" (UNDP Global Environmental Facility, Black Sea Environmental Programme-1995)
• "Technical and Nature Friendly Apicultural Production in Camili (Artvin) Basin"
• Holding a congress on "Geographical Information Systems."
• "Integrated Project on Soil Conservation, Pasture Improvement. And Apiculture in Yenimehmetti, Polatlı" by a financial support granted from the Netherland Embassy.
• Researches on the important forest are as in Turkey was carried out under the IUCN/WWF project "GAP Analysis of the Mediterranean Old-Growth Forests: Priority Areas for Forest Conservation in the Mediterranean Region" in 1998 for DHKD.
• A research project named "Presentation of Nature Reservation areas in Turkey on Local, N ational, and International Levels, and Granting Public Participation in in situ Protection of Gene Resources (The Case of Gevne ValIey)" (UNDP GEF / NGO Small Grants Programrne-1998)
• Project named "Training Programme for the Executives and Members of the Forest Village Development Cooperatives for the in-sİtu Protection of Biological Diversity" supported by UNDP-GEF Small Grants Programme.
• Bulletin named "Rural Environment" has been published and distributed since 2002.
• "Verbal History of Forestry", a collection of memories of retired old foresters (published and distributed in Jan '2003).
• 1 stNational Congress on the History of Nature (Nov 2002). (The Proceedings published and distributed).
• 2nd National Congress on the History of Nature (Nov 2006).
• Publication of the book titled "The Monumental Trees of the Capital City; Ankara" (Nov'2002).
• Second edition of the book titled: "Nature Reservation Areas in Turkey" (Nov'2002).
• A lecture book for Dendrology and Forest Ecology School was prepared and published via the support taken from UNDP-GEF Small Grants Programme.
• "Wednesday Seminars" on several environmental issues has been organized in each fall and spring Wednesdays since 2001.
• "Rural Environment Annual" which collects research papers related to rural environment and forestry has been published each year since 2000. This annual posted to related institutions and university departments.
• Press releases to arise public awareness concemed to negative modifications to Constitution and Forest Law, early ending of hunting restriction, organization of rally in a national park, etc.
• Protect our Forests Union: A union consisting of 70 institutions, organizations and associations against the negative modifications of Constitutions's articles concerned with forests. RAREF was also a member of this union which was succesful in its actions so that no modifications were done in Constitutions.
• 1. National Congress on Urban Forestry which was organized together with three other ssociations in April 2004.
• Technical visits to natural areas and forestry/agriculture application sites have been started in 2003.
• Law suits concerning many subjects conceming closing forest nurseries, illegal fishing in Van Lake, bui1ding in some forest areas, cancellation of some articles in afforestration law, etc.