Saying and doing for Green Istanbul…

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality is taking care to create practical examples in the frequently used and talked about areas such as “Green Infrastructure, Sustainability”.

The Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and other officials inspected the work at the Büyükdere Nursery on site.

Head of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Parks, Gardens and Green Areas Department Prof. Dr. Tuğba Ölmez Hancı and Chairman of the Board of Athena Fair Organization Mustafa Gültekin Gökgül discussed the WUP Symposium.

IThe climate crisis and uncontrolled urban development are putting immense pressure on urban ecosystems. Istanbul's landscape is undergoing a transformation that goes beyond the usual catchphrases like "We've filled it with greenery and color, and our city is in bloom," where local governments are heavily using seasonal flowers.

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Department of Parks, Gardens, and Green Spaces examined the paradigmatic shifts experienced by metropolitan cities worldwide and reinterpreted the city's green transformation from a holistic perspective. The urban ecosystem was redefined and redefined. With the "Urban Ecosystem Restoration Plan," many new steps have been taken and are being taken that will serve as an example for other local governments.

For example, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Parks, Gardens, and Green Areas Department, UNEP (United Nations Environment Program), cited Istanbul as a role model with its "Urban Ecosystem Restoration Plan." As part of UNEP's work, the IMM Parks, Gardens, and Green Areas Department met with representatives from the World Bank and various international organizations at the "Urban Nature Program Experts Meeting" to explain the IMM Green Istanbul projects.

The rainwater harvesting project implemented at the Büyükdere Atatürk Nursery is an example of how to efficiently utilize Istanbul's water resources. The rainwater collected at the nursery plays a role in irrigating the nursery's plants and protecting environmental water resources. It's not hard to predict that similar examples will continue to proliferate in Istanbul.

Meanwhile, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality continues its investments to reduce carbon emissions by taking serious steps in solar power plants. To date, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has reached a total installed capacity of 7,866 kWp across 60 facilities through its Solar Power Plant (SPP) projects, preventing 5,149 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. 

Additionally, in recent months, Athena Fair Management and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Department of Parks, Gardens, and Green Spaces discussed the WUP Symposium, which will be held as part of the Landscape Istanbul 2024 Fair. The agenda was developed for the symposium's topics and the international speakers to be invited, and a meeting was held with the WUP management to determine the main themes of the WUP Symposium.