The Eastern Mediterranean Research Association (Doğu Akdeniz Araştırma Derneği) works to advance biodiversity conservation through science-based research and applied ecological solutions across the Eastern Mediterranean.
With the support of the Turquoise Coast Environment Fund (TCEF), launched in collaboration with the Conservation Collective and the Support Foundation for Civil Society (Sivil Toplum için Destek Vakfı), the Association implemented the project “Fire- and Climate-Resilient Islands: Bozcaada and Gökçeada.” The project examined how island ecosystems respond to climate change and wildfires, and developed practical recommendations for climate-adaptive restoration.
Read our interview below to learn more about the association, the project’s key findings, and what they mean for the future of island conservation.
Can you briefly introduce your organisation and its main areas of work?
Founded in 2016 by early-career scientists, the Eastern Mediterranean Research Association works to conserve biodiversity, develop science-based solutions to ecological challenges, and promote lifestyles aligned with ecological principles.
Despite being a relatively young organisation, the Association has implemented nationally and internationally funded projects across the Eastern Mediterranean Basin. Its work focuses on nature conservation, forestry practices, post-fire ecological restoration, biodiversity research, and citizen science.
Key initiatives include UN GEF Small Grants Programme–supported projects on post-fire restoration and wildfire awareness, Rufford Foundation–funded research on forest conservation planning, and active participation in the Strengthen Nature civil society network in Türkiye.
Ecological changes on these islands provide early and visible signals of climate stress.
Why is the conservation of island ecosystems important?
Islands are globally significant for biodiversity due to their high levels of endemism. Their isolation makes them ecologically unique, but also highly vulnerable to climate change, drought, and wildfires.
In Türkiye, islands such as Bozcaada and Gökçeada host characteristic Mediterranean ecosystems, including red pine forests, maquis, and phrygana. These landscapes function as natural laboratories, where the impacts of climate change can be observed earlier and more clearly than in many mainland areas.
By analysing vegetation dynamics and plant functional traits on both islands, the project generated science-based recommendations that support Türkiye’s climate adaptation and biodiversity goals, while also offering a model applicable to similar ecosystems.
The main challenge was the highly heterogeneous and dynamic nature of island ecosystems, shaped by both natural and human pressures.
What were the main objectives and activities of the project?
The project aimed to assess the current and future resilience of Bozcaada and Gökçeada to climate change and fire, and to develop nature-based forestry and restoration recommendations.
Vegetation mosaics on both islands were mapped using remote sensing and extensive fieldwork. Plant species composition, structural characteristics, and functional traits were analysed to evaluate both resistance to fire and the capacity for post-fire recovery. These findings were combined with climate models to produce four future vegetation scenarios covering the period 2021–2100.
The results were shared with the General Directorate of Forestry (OGM), the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks (DKMP), and local civil society organisations, and compiled into a comprehensive report on climate-adaptive and fire-resilient restoration.
Limited historical data required intensive use of satellite imagery and field observations. Close coordination with public institutions and local actors helped address these challenges and ensured that scientific knowledge was combined with local experience.
One of the most striking findings was the presence of potential climate refugia—areas that buffer ecosystems against heat and drought stress.
What do the findings tell us about the future of island ecosystems?
The findings show that both islands are likely to be strongly affected by increasing drought, rising temperatures, and changing fire regimes. Some vegetation types, particularly in water-stressed areas, are expected to shrink over time.
While certain dominant species show adaptive traits suited to warmer and drier conditions, long-term resilience depends on protecting their habitats and integrating them intentionally into restoration efforts. Species-rich maquis communities were found to be more resilient than expected, while the growing risk of invasive species highlights the need for early intervention.
Protecting and strengthening these refugia is a central element of the project’s resilience-based restoration approach.
Supporting this project means supporting a scalable, applied conservation approach for Türkiye’s climate and biodiversity goals.
How would you describe the project’s impact?
This project represents one of Türkiye’s first comprehensive ecological resilience assessments focused specifically on island ecosystems.
Scientifically, it provides detailed vegetation mapping, fire and climate resilience assessments based on plant functional traits, and long-term climate projections. Practically, it has resulted in joint evaluations with public authorities and the development of nature-based, climate- and fire-resilient management recommendations. In the long term, it offers a transferable conservation model for other islands and coastal ecosystems and strengthens collaboration between academia, public institutions, and local stakeholders.
