Leader: Sedat Kalem

Contributed by Sedat Kalem

Name: Sedat Kalem

Position: Conservation Director, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Turkey

Where do you work? Istanbul, Turkey

Degrees: Ph.D. in Landscape Architecture from Ankara University, Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences; M.Sc. in Landscape Planning from the Technical University of Yildiz, Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences; B.Sc. in Forest Engineering from Istanbul University, Faculty of Forestry.

Areas of expertise:
I work on planning and implementation of ecoregion-based conservation in the Caucasus. My specialties are in participatory forest and protected area planning and management, alternative livelihood development, (eg eco-tourism), sustainable resource use, wildlife protection and trans-border cooperation.

Career highlights:
I led the development and implementation of WWF Turkey’s Forest Strategy and management of the Forest Programme. And I coordinated with WWF’s international forest network in order to contribute to the development and implementation of a common regional/global strategy and represented WWF-Turkey in national and international fora, such as in the development of a national forest program in Turkey.

Why is the Global Mediterranean Action Network exciting to you?
Although I was theoretically aware that there are other Mediterranean Climate regions in the world (in addition to the Mediterranean Basin, where I am from), I used to feel “too far away,” not only physically but also psychologically. The network is trying to close this gap and bring people from different parts of the world around the common interest of the Mediterranean biome’s survival. Being part of this dedicated squad gives me the sense of “ability” in my conservation challenge.  

What activities do you enjoy in your spare time?
I enjoy traveling and nature photography, especially in high mountains and alpine landscapes. I am interested in local cultures (especially local architecture and folk music), and I try to include both natural and cultural factors in my conservation approach.

What’s your favorite species?
I love Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) because old cedar trees are so majestic. Also, the Anatolian leopard (Panthera pardus tulliana) because it’s a charismatic animal native to Turkey and it is almost extinct. My favorite vegetation types are high mountain forests and alpine grasslands.

How did your early experiences in nature influence you?
I was born in North Western Turkey, in the Black Sea region, where green forests, grasslands, blue rivers and wildlife were very common and well preserved. Socio-economic life was strongly linked to forests and I decided to study forestry. As I grew up and traveled across the country and to more developed parts of the region, I started realizing the deterioration in nature. I also realized how privileged I was to live in a well-preserved environment and started worrying about future generations. Therefore, I have been more inclined toward the conservation side of nature and natural resources rather than the exploitation side since the early stages of my professional life.

What gives you hope?
The children. If we can effectively invest in new generations for a sustainable future, the result would be rewarding.