A high-level delegation from the Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF) and the Keidanren Nature Conservation Council (KNCC) visited the Kızılırmak Delta in Türkiye’s Samsun region from 7–9 July 2026 to observe how various stakeholders including local communities are advancing biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and climate resilience through the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) COMDEKS Phase 4 portfolio.
Caption: Visit to organic strawberry field with deligation and community partners.
The Kızılırmak Delta, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and a candidate UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Türkiye’s most significant biodiversity hotspots. Its mosaic of wetlands, lakes, floodplain forests, dunes, grasslands, and agricultural lands supports rich wildlife and migrating bird populations while sustaining local livelihoods through agriculture, fisheries, and livestock production.
The three-day mission brought together representatives from KNCF/KNCC, the Ministry of the Environment of Japan, the Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat, and several Japanese private-sector companies. The visit highlighted the growing importance of partnerships among communities, civil society, government institutions, academia, and businesses in addressing biodiversity and development challenges.
Launched in 2011 as a flagship programme of the Satoyama Initiative, a global effort to realize societies in harmony with nature, COMDEKS supports locally led solutions that strengthen biodiversity, climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and traditional knowledge in socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes (SEPLS). In Türkiye, COMDEKS has been implemented since 2011, and 11 interconnected projects are currently being implemented through the SGP with support from the Ministry of the Environment of Japan and KNCF.
Caption: farmer with his buffalos in the Kızılırmak Delta.
The mission began at the Kızılırmak Delta Visitor Centre, where participants received an overview of the delta’s ecological significance and the COMDEKS landscape strategy. During the visit, the delegation explored a diverse portfolio of projects addressing biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, women’s empowerment, youth engagement, and technological innovation, while exchanging views with various local stakeholders. One of the key stops was the Sky-Friendly Powerlines Project, which is reducing bird mortality by insulating high-risk electricity infrastructure, improving wildlife rescue capacity, and raising awareness among local communities and schools. The project installed insulation material on 50 high-risk electrical poles to protect flying and nesting birds.
The visit also highlighted how digital technologies are supporting more sustainable agriculture. In organic hazelnut and truffle farms, climate and irrigation monitoring systems are helping farmers manage water use and adapt to changing conditions, while the Balance in Nature, Quality in Product project uses digital pest traps and biological control methods. These projects are also collaborating closely with local universities and private sector technology companies to reduce pesticide use and promote eco-friendly production.
“We were honoured to welcome the Keidanren delegation to the Kızılırmak Delta and to showcase our COMDEKS project. Their support, including the contribution of pest trap digital monitoring systems, strengthens our efforts to promote biodiversity-friendly agriculture and sustainable livelihoods. We hope this visit marks the beginning of a lasting partnership and friendship.” Dr. F. Figen Ar, Project Manager, Balance in Nature, Quality in Product Project.
Other highlights included engagement with the Women Fishers Association, which is creating new income opportunities through value-added fish products while strengthening women’s participation in fisheries management, and the From Buffalo to Brand Project, which is helping local producers improve buffalo product quality, branding, and market access while maintaining traditional buffalo-based livelihoods closely linked to the delta ecosystem.
Caption: Seclction of field trip photos with COMDEKS and community partners.
The integrated nature of the COMDEKS portfolio made a strong impression on the visiting delegation:
“During this visit, I had the opportunity to observe a landscape approach initiative in which 11 projects are being implemented in close coordination with one another. What impressed me most was that all the projects shared a common philosophy of fostering harmony between people and nature and were working together in a highly integrated manner. In addition, a wide range of stakeholders, including residents, university researchers, local governments, and businesses, were collaborating to advance these efforts.
I was particularly struck by the way researchers and residents worked side by side, continually developing innovative approaches through environmental education and the use of digital technologies. While I had previously understood the importance of collaboration among diverse stakeholders in theory, seeing experts and community members actively working together in practice made a strong impression on me. It reinforced my belief that the Japanese business community must further strengthen its collaboration with a broad range of locally rooted stakeholders in initiatives such as these.” Mr. Keiji Nishizawa, Chair, Keidanren Nature Conservation Council (KNCC).
The visit demonstrated how locally driven innovation, backed by long-term investment and strong partnerships, can generate tangible benefits for both people and planet. From protecting migratory birds and wetlands, to empowering women entrepreneurs, engaging young farmers, and applying digital technologies in agriculture, the COMDEKS portfolio in the Kızılırmak Delta offers practical lessons for resilient landscape management. As countries work to advance the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals, the experience from Samsun shows the value of investing in solutions that are rooted in local communities and scaled through collaboration.
Caption: Selection of field trip photos with COMDEKS and community partners.