Page 220 - Çevre Şehir ve İklim Dergisi İngilizce - Özel Sayı

Use of Climate-Resilient Plants in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands

Figure 19: 2022: Çankırı Forest Nursery; saplings grown from Four-Winged Figure 21: 2023: Karaman, Ayrancı; the area where income-generating species
Saltbush seeds collected from the Kırşehir, Malya trial area (lavender, thyme, sage, etc.) were applied and a drip irrigation system was installed
(From the writer’s own archive, 2022). (From the writer’s own archive, 2023).
• Carrying out irrigation for at least two years, provided it is not excessive, Although drought-resistant plants are selected and applied in the fields,
in areas where irrigation is available. it has been experienced that irrigation is more appropriate in areas where
While the General Directorate of Afforestation (AGM) was in operation, the irrigation is available, especially during the long dry season in the first few
Iğdır, Aralık wind erosion site was protected with wire fencing, and part of the years following sapling planting. In areas where irrigation was carried out
area was planted with drought-resistant species such as acacia, oleaster, black during the long dry periods in the first years, it has been found that the plant
locust, and gleditsia. The plants survived the dry seasons in the first years with survival rate was higher.
limited irrigation amounts (Figure 20).
4. Conclusion and Discussion

With climate change, the issues experienced in the arid and semi-arid
areas of our country are being felt more deeply. The drought disaster,
desertification, soil erosion, land degradation due to anthropogenic damage
to the environment, along with the risk of desertification, will reach dimensions
that could threaten human life in the future. The marginal areas, pastures,
and other lands in these regions are lacking sufficient vegetation cover, and
the final stage of desertification in such areas is posed by the threat of wind
erosion. In the fight against wind erosion and other major issues, conducting
Figure 20: Iğdır, Aralık wind erosion site: Installation of drip irrigation system in the
studies to identify areas vulnerable to wind erosion and desertification is
wire-fenced protected area in 2009 (left), the state of the site showing success in
essential, as it lays the foundation for preparing action plans.
2012 (right) (From the writer’s own archive).
The most effective nature-based solution and antidote to the problems in
In Karaman, Ayrancı, Divle village, a planting area with drought-tolerant
medicinal and aromatic plants was established using the same methods non-forested areas with problematic soils and adverse climatic conditions is
(protection and irrigation in the first years) (Figure 21). planting activities using climate-resilient plants.
In this context, correctly applying plant selection criteria, conducting plant
adaptation and identification trials in local areas, establishing gene resource
gardens to ensure the continuous supply of resistant and high-quality plants, are
key factors that increase the success rate. In such studies, plant species that have
been successful should be used not only in the rehabilitation of pastures and other

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