Last updated: May 2025
The Çukurova Arboretum is located 17 km from the city centre of Adana, close to the Seyhan Dam lake. Established in 1997, it aims to conserve and protect plant species and vegetation from the region and those adapted to the Mediterranean climate (Ref. 2,5). Given its location outside the city centre and its proximity to freshwater resources, the Arboretum has been praised as a refuge for relaxation and recreation away from the stress of the city (Ref. 1,3). The area has been established by the Regional Forest Directorate of Adana in cooperation with the Istanbul University, department of Forestry (Ref. 2,3). In 2011 and 2013 new infrastructure was added to the arboretum, including a nursery, main road network connection and irrigation (Ref. 2). Visitors and researchers can access over 1050 ha hosting more than 700 plant taxa in different thematic areas, such as mediterranean vegetation, rose gardens, succulent and cactus areas, medicinal and aromatic plant gardens and an aquatic plants exhibition center which is a special feature to the site (Ref. 2). For research specifically, laboratory projects have been established and nurseries continue to ensure the supply of plant material (Ref.1). Over the years, the Arboretum has been equipped with more elaborate infrastructure and exhebition sites as well as educational material available to visitors (Ref.1,2,4).
A view of Seyhan Dam lake and Süleyman Demirel Arboretum from the northern part of Çukurova University Campus
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:S%C3%BCleyman_Demirel_Arboretumu,_Adana.jpg
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Improving mental health
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Tourism support
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Rapid urbanization
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Mental health issues (stress, anxiety)
Key priorities
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature, Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks), Urban reforestation, restoration of street trees, Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Creation of lakes or ponds, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Ecological restoration of existing green spaces, Restoration and protection of ecosystems (including water ecosystems), Protection of natural ecosystems, Habitat restoration, Habitat conservation, Creating nature reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, or biodiversity hotspots to conserve unique ecosystems, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Educational and awareness raising programs, Scientific research of biodiversity or ecosystems, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Habitat mapping, restoration and monitoring-focused management
Project objectives
1) Conservation and protection of (aquatic) plant species from the region, especially endemic ones and those which are adapted to the Mediterranean climate (Ref. 2,5)
2) Restoration and monitoring of sites especially suitable for unique ecosystems such as the maquis vegetation (Ref. 2)
3) Creation of an artifical pond to exhibit aquatic plants and enhance visual attractiveness of the site (Ref. 2)
4) Provide a site for scientific research and species monitoring (Ref. 2)
5) Offer a refuge for people from the city (Ref. 1,3,4)
6) Educate and raise awareness among visitors about the species and the importance of the site. (Ref. 3,4)
7) Attract tourists and other visitors to the site for education and recreation by enhancing the site's infrastructure (Ref. 1)
Implementation activities
-Site selection works were carried out during the establishment phase, the first plan for the main administration building and infrastructure works was made in 1997. (Ref. 2)
-A nursery was established by the Regional Forest Directorate in a 30-hectare area within the Çukurova University Botanical Garden for the necessary plant material and production stocking.(Ref. 5)
-Create a water mirror within the Arboretum area with the water to be provided from the dam (Ref. 2)
-Laboratory projects are carried out (Ref. 1)
-In 2011, infrastructure works such as the administration building, nursery and main road network have been completed by the Regional Directorate (Ref. 2). From 2013, irrigation and electricity infrastructure is being established (Ref. 1). Different types of gardens have been created, i.e. Mediterranean vegetation, rose gardens, succulent and cactus areas, areas with medicinal and aromatic plants, an aquatic plants exhibition center (including the respective pond to host such species) (Ref. 2). Other amenities include: Ponds, Cafe, and Information on plants (Ref. 2)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Undertake specific measures to protect endangered species
- Means for conservation governance
- Manage biological resources for conservation and sustainable use
- Raise public awareness
- Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Restore valued species
- Other
Main beneficiaries
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Regional government
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-management/Joint management
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The establishment works of Çukurova Süleyman Demirel Arboretum started in 1996 with the suggestions of the Adana Forest Regional Directorate and came to life with the positive views of the General Directorate of Forestry and contributions of the Istanbul University Faculty of Forestry. (Ref.2)
Later, the Adana Environment and Arboretum Association [a new stakeholder] started working together with the Regional Directorate of Forestry to realize the Çukurova Süleyman Demirel Arboretum. (Ref. 1) [this was in 2013]
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Type of enablers
Change agents (individual with major role influence on launching)
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Unknown
Type of funding
- Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Other
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Lowered local temperature
- Expected lowered local temperature
- Water management and blue areas
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Expected enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increase in protected green space areas
- Achieved increase in protected green space areas
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Achieved increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Expected reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
- Other
Economic impacts
- More sustainable tourism
- Expected more sustainable tourism
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Achieved improved access to urban green space
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Achieved gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief
- Expected enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Expected improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Protection of natural heritage
- Achieved protection of natural heritage
- Increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
- Expected increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Achieved increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Expected increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Ecosystems and biodiversity, Introducing of non-native species
References
1.
Karaman, M. (2013). Çukurova Arboretumu için güç birliği yaptılar. Sabah, Accessed on September 7, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Chinar, H. S., Kirca, S. (2013). Arboretumların Planlama Ve Tasarımında Temel Yaklaşımlar Çukurova Süleyman Demirel Arboretumu Örneği. Kahramanmaraş: Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi , p. 129-141 Accessed on September 7, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Demirören Haber Ajansı (2013). Arboretum, 520 Ağaç Türüyle Ziyaretçilerini Bekliyor. Haberler, Accessed on September 7, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Demirören Haber Ajansı (2015). Süleyman Demirel, Çukurova'ya Arboretum Kazandırmıştı. Haberler, Accessed on September 7, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Factulty of Forestry, University of Istanbul (2006). Çukurova Süleyman Demirel Arboretumu:. p. 262 Accessed on September 7, 2024, [Source link];
Extend of the Arboretum
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317720641_Arboretumlarin_Planlama_Ve_Tasariminda_Temel_Yaklasimlar_Cukurova_Suleyman_Demirel_Arboretumu_Ornegi
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.