Environment Foundation of Turkey
The
Environment Foundation of Turkey is a non-governmental, non-profit, voluntary
and independent organization carrying out its work in accordance with the
principles of the Civil Code of Turkey. The Foundation, established on 1
February 1978 by Dr. Cevdet Aykan, Serbülent Bingöl, Muslih Fer, Ertuğrul
Soysal, Prof. Dr. Necmi Sönmez, Engin Ural and Altan Ünver, is governed by the
Board of Trustees consisting of Turgut Tokuş (Chairman), Engin Ural (Secretary
General), Prof. Dr. Yüksel Öztan
The
Environment Foundation of Turkey (EFT) is continuing its work in the form of
research, publications and creating public awareness. The books which the
Foundation has published since its establishment on various issues of the
environment, constitute the basis of the environmental literature in Turkey.
In
1978, when the concept of environment was not too well known, EFT pioneered for
it to be taken into consideration by the government. As a result of its efforts
from 1980 through 1982, Article 56, which deals with the environment was
included in the Constitution. On the other hand, EFT prepared a draft
Environment Law, insistently followed it through for two years and played the
greatest role in its acceptance. Furthermore, also in 1981, EFT prepared the
first environmental profile of Turkey, being the first volunteer organization in
the world to publish such a profile. Updated editions of the profile are
published every two years by EFT who has undertaken to render this service which
is carried out only by governments in many other countries.
EFT has introduced various new environmental concepts like sustainable development and biological diversity. The Foundation has good relations with international organizations such as the United Nations, the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the World Bank. At the same time, the UNEP National Committee for Turkey is incorporated within the legal framework of EFT. The Foundation is also in cooperation with the Centre for Our Common Future, located in Geneva.
Carrying on its work with financial support received on the basis of projects, EFT also accepts conditional or unconditional donations. The Foundation grants scholarships to students through the “Scholarship Fund of Hâle and Nail Oraman”. EFT’s library is unique in Turkey, containing environmental source books and documentation and is open to researchers. Books published by EFT are sold by the “Revolving Fund of the Environment Foundation of Turkey”. This Fund also offers advisory services on subjects related to the environment. The “Newsletter”, published quarterly in Turkish, is sent to about 6000 addresses free of charge and gives information about the activities of EFT.