Embedding Nature-Based Solutions into Disaster Risk Management to Strengthen The Resilience of Türkiye Project (TERRA)
Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR), Climate Change Adaptation, Climate Resilience, EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).
The TERRA Project is co-financed by the European Union and the Republic of Türkiye under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) – Single Country Grants Programme for Disaster Risk Reduction. The project is implemented between November 2023 and November 2025 under the coordination of the Ministry of Interior, Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD).
TERRA aims to strengthen disaster risk reduction (DRR) policies and strategies by systematically integrating ecosystem-based approaches and Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) into decision-making processes. The project supports the development of scientific and evidence-based frameworks that demonstrate the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) compared to conventional structural measures. By combining scientific research with traditional knowledge, TERRA enhances understanding of how natural systems—such as forests, wetlands, and river basins—can reduce hazard exposure, mitigate impacts, and increase adaptive capacity.
A central objective of the project is to mainstream Eco-DRR approaches across local, regional, and national governance levels. This includes strengthening institutional capacity, improving policy coherence, and supporting stakeholders in embedding ecosystem-based strategies into planning instruments and sectoral policies. Through analytical studies, stakeholder engagement, and strategic guidance, TERRA contributes to building resilient communities and advancing climate-adaptive, cost-effective disaster risk management systems.
By aligning national DRR strategies with European civil protection frameworks, the project enhances cross-institutional coordination and supports Türkiye’s long-term resilience agenda through integrated, ecosystem-informed policy development.