Gokyigit Nihat
Organization: TEMA Foundation
Year Founded: 1992
Country: Turkey
Website: http://english.tema.org.tr/
TEMA has pioneered a multistakeholder approach to tackling the problem of soil erosion in Turkey. Focus: Environment Geographic area of impact: Turkey Model: Hybrid Non-Profit Annual Budget: US$ 3.6 million (2008) Recognition: Social Entrepreneur of the Year, Turkey, 2009 Background Soil erosion is one of the world’s most serious environmental problems. It is estimated that 10 million hectares of soil are lost annually as rain and wind wash away topsoil. Globally, topsoil is being lost between 10-40 times faster than its natural replenishment rate, and 30% of the world’s arable land has become unproductive as a result of erosion over the past 40 years. In Turkey, 67 million hectares of land face erosion and 60% of existing land is already severely eroded. Because of its soil erosion problem, Turkey has experienced declines in livestock, agricultural production and significant rural-urban migration. In the face of this complex problem, a comprehensive, multistakeholder approach is needed to mobilize the country and prevent further soil erosion. Innovation and Activities TEMA (the Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats) has gathered 30 Turkish business leaders to act as the umbrella organization for initiatives tackling the problem of soil erosion across education, legal advocacy, reforestation and rural development. It partners with local communities, private companies, government and international NGOs to put in place lasting and widespread solutions to soil erosion. Education is at the centre of TEMA’s effort to tackle soil erosion. It works with government ministries and academic institutions to “train the trainers”. To date, more than 2 million officers, teachers and community leaders have attended its seminars regarding the threat of soil erosion and how it can be tackled locally. Public education is complemented by TEMA’s advocacy efforts in legislation and governance. TEMA succeeded in getting the Turkish General Assembly to ratify the Grazeland Law in 1998 to combat desertification, and the Law on Soil Protection and Land Improvement in 2005. TEMA’s advocacy efforts also include public petition campaigns against laws permitting the sale of deforested lands, and the opening of national-level lawsuits against the use of protected natural areas for commercial purposes. TEMA demonstrates the potency of its message through reforestation and rural development projects. With the support of Turkey’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry, it has planted 2.2 million saplings over 2,350 hectares through 25 different reforestation campaigns. Its rural development projects operate on the basis that poverty alleviation is indispensible in combating soil erosion. As such, farmers have been trained on pasture rehabilitation, fodder crop protection, irrigation and generation of alternative income sources like bee-rearing. Presently, TEMA’s 35 rural development projects across 100,000 hectares have generated more than US$ 15 million worth of income for farmers. TEMA’s work is being replicated in Germany and the Netherlands, and is widely co-published through the UN and Worldwatch Institute. The Entrepreneur Nihat Gökyigit was a successful business entrepreneur, presiding over one of Turkey’s largest conglomerates (Tekfen Holdings) when he decided to start TEMA with renowned environmentalist Hayrettin Karaca. Having grown up in Artvin, a secluded and pristine part of Turkey, he wanted to identify livelihoods through which Turkey’s people could preserve their nation’s rich biodiversity rather than destroy it. His private foundation operates Turkey’s most prominent botanical garden, which complements TEMA’s work through botanic education and research. Nihat is a well-respected national figure, having received the State Superior Service Medal from Turkey’s President in 1997, and held senior leadership posts in the Turkish-CIS Business Council, the Black Sea Economic Co-operation Business Council and the Foreign Economic Relations Council.
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