In the period 26.05. to 28.05.2021 a three-day workshop, focusing on birds was organized. The organization of the workshop is one of the activities implemented within the project “Preparation, Implementation and Monitoring of Species Action Plans for Endangered Species in Turkey within the Concept of a New Methodology “, outlined by the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, funded by EU and co-financed by Turkish Republic under Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) programme.

The main organization of the workshop which was carried out under the auspices of the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks was done by Doğa Koruma Merkezi (Nature Protection Center), a partner organization within the AGRECO Project Consortium. The workshop was facilitated by recognized Turkish bird experts.

The workshop was held online and is a first step in the process of prioritization of threatened bird species that should in the future receive special attention of the Turkish government in terms of species action plans.

The workshop program was dedicated to the assessment of threatened bird species of Turkey. The methodology of this day workshop was identification of the species with risk of extinction in Turkey. The plenary session of the first day of the workshop was followed by a discussion, where 75 participants exchanged the most up to date information of the state of bird populations, distribution and threats in the country and assessed them according to the international and national criteria of endangerment. 

Out of 481 species recorded in Turkey, more than 140 were selected as threatened and will be a subject of the second bird workshop that aims to prioritize species with a final goal to establish a system which would define the approach for selecting priority species for the preparation and implementation of future Species Action Plans.