Building a More Resilient Ankara Through Nature-Based Solutions

A total of 28 participants worked in five multidisciplinary groups to develop nature-based solution proposals for real urban sites across Ankara. Using maps, site assessments and a specially designed Solution Evaluation Checklist, participants evaluated each location from ecological, social and practical perspectives before presenting their ideas to the wider group.

The workshop focused on five implementation areas: an unused plot between two schools, the Esat Wholesale Market area, a park near the Mamak Municipal Building, the Ayrancı Backyard Green Corridor, and a wide median strip. Proposed solutions included rainwater harvesting systems, neighbourhood gardens, biological ponds, drought-tolerant native vegetation, ecological corridors, permeable surfaces, insect habitats and multifunctional green spaces that improve biodiversity while strengthening community life and climate resilience.

Participant feedback demonstrated the success of the seminar's interactive approach. Ninety-four percent of respondents stated that the event met their expectations, while the overall evaluation score reached 4.23 out of 5. Group work, practical site-based exercises and the opportunity to exchange ideas with stakeholders were identified as the most valuable aspects of the event. Participants also expressed a strong willingness to apply what they learned in their professional work and share the experience within their organisations.

The seminar marks an important milestone for the Co-ADAPT project, demonstrating how collaborative planning can generate practical, locally adapted nature-based solutions for urban climate adaptation. The outcomes and participant feedback will directly inform the project's second stakeholder seminar and the continued development of community-led nature-based solutions in Ankara.

On 30 April 2026, the first Co-ADAPT Stakeholder Seminar was held in Ankara, bringing together representatives from local authorities, academia, civil society, and citizens to explore how small-scale nature-based solutions can help cities become more resilient to climate change and biodiversity loss. The seminar was organised by the Nature Conservation Centre (DKM) as part of the Co-ADAPT (Community-Based Climate Adaptation and Biodiversity through Small-Scale Nature-Based Solutions) project, co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme.