Environmentally fragile areas that need to be protected and are under environmental risk are being lost constantly due to the excessive amount of environmental ravages. The ecological, historical and cultural values of local communities are vanishing rapidly due to fossil energy investment projects, inappropriate zoning for industrial plants and poorly planned urbanization. In favor of short-term economic interests, the ecologically reserved areas and vital natural zones have been damaged irreversibly. The livelihoods of the local people have been degraded in addition. Our Project, called Environmental Rights Education Project, includes education directed to local people that aims at raising environmental awareness and providing education on environmental rights that can be applied in their localities. In addition we plan to increase the capacity of the local people to engage in their own advocacy regarding environmental law and rights.

For this purpose, in 3 different regions that we have selected in Turkey that are under environmental risk, the capacity-building education shall be realized and the sample projects, which have been supported by SGP until the date, shall be made according to the one of the priorities of GEF/SGP 5 Application Period, which is set out in articles 26 and 28. In these 3 regions, preliminary and preparatory work, which will be a guideline for the full Environmental Law and Rights Education project, shall be carried out and the education programme, schedule and professors shall be determined together with the local stakeholders.

Some previous indications of endorsement for this concept have been given to us by Heinrich Böll Stiftung. With the financial support of GEF/SGP, the full Project can be realized.