Isolated land masses, such as islands, contribute significantly to global biodiversity due to their high rates of endemism. However, their ecological dynamics are more sensitive compared to mainland ecosystems, and even a relatively small crisis can lead to rapid ecosystem degradation and economic losses for the island population if not adequately prepared for potential threats.
Today, the impacts of climate change, particularly drought, are evident on vegetation, leading to population declines and even extinctions of some plant species. Additionally, although many plant species have adapted to fire, the increasing frequency and intensity of forest fires each year cause significant damage. Therefore, it is essential to develop nature-based and ecological approaches in forestry and conservation practices to create structures resistant and resilient to both fires and climate change.
With the support of the Turquoise Coast Environment Fund and The Support Foundation for Civil Society, our project “Fire and Climate Resilient Islands: Bozcaada and Gökçeada” led by the Eastern Mediterranean Research Association aims to:
- Evaluate the direct and indirect effects of the global climate crisis, such as drought, on plant and vegetation structures on Gökçeada, Turkey’s largest island, and Bozcaada, the second-largest island in the Northern Aegean islands;
- Develop ecological post-fire restoration proposals for island ecosystems;
- Compare the dynamics of these two island ecosystems to develop nature-based solutions for the conservation of island biodiversity.
From this perspective, the resilience and resistance capacities of these fragile island ecosystems against fire and climate change will be determined based on the plant species and vegetation structures on the islands. Additionally, by assessing both the current situation and future projections, forestry and conservation recommendations will be developed for practitioners to enhance resilience and resistance to fire and climate change.
Finally, due to their geographical isolation from the mainland, better planning for any forestry interventions and even more precise strategic planning to address risks such as drought and fire in the predicted vegetation structure will be established.
