Turkey
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An on-line Flora of Turkey has been constructed by the Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanic Garden. Information on the website is only available in Turkish.
The Turkish Plants Data Service (TÜBIVES) provides a website based on the Flora of Turkey (Davis et al. 1966-2001, unfortunately this impressive 11 volume flora it is currently out of print). The website lists the plant species either per province (there are 81) or on the basis of a grid (30 cells). You can read more about the Turkish Plants Data Service in Babac (2003).
Finally, there is the National Biodiversity Database (Noah's Ark). This is a monitor for the biodiversity of Turkey created under the responsibility of the General Directorate for Nature Conservation and National Parks (GDNCPA).
A scientific analysis of the crop wild relatives in Turkey appeared in 2019: Conservation gap analysis of crop wild relatives in Turkey.
It gives valuable information regarding the occurrence and status of CWR, and their representation in the Turkish national ex situ genebanks: the Plant Genetic Resource Centre in the Aegean Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) established in 1964, and the recently established Field Crops Central Research Institute (TTGB).
These institutions have both been actively collecting CWR populations, currently holding 5,871 and 1,726 accessions of 829 CWR taxa respectively.
(currently no information available)
As Turkey is a member of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) the official points of reference are presented on the Turkish country profile page of the CBD site.
Persons wishing to research or collect plant or bulbous species in Turkey should apply for a research permit from the General Directorate of Agricultural Researches and Policies (GDARP) and General Directorate of Vegetative Production (BUGEM) respectively.
Research permission for all biodiversity (ecosystems, species, gene diversity, biological resources such as biomolecules, cells, tissues, organisms etc.) is handled by ARİBS (Biodiversity Research Permits Information System and Database, in Turkish, only accessible for registered users, also accessible via the Turkish e-Government Gateway).
This database is under responsibility of the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks.
Phytosanitary controls regarding export and import is under responsibility of the General Directorate of Food and Control.
In order to carry out import and export quarantine applications, there are twelve Agricultural Quarantine Directorates. Applicants are required to register at the Agriculture Information System (in Turkish, only accessible for registered users).
After registration, they should apply with a hard copy of the application form to one of the 12 Directorates of Agricultural Quarantine from where they want to import or export. Provincial Agriculture Directorates can be applied in case of absence of an Agricultural Quarantine Directorate in the region.
Conservation of plant genetic resources in Turkey is carried out under the law of "The Collection, Protection and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources" that entered in force in 1992.
This regulation includes survey, collection, protection, conservation, production, replacement, characterization, assessment and documentation of plant genetic resources and exchange of material.
The renewal of this regulation has been prepared by the General Directorate of Agricultural Researches and Policies (GDARP) and is subject to final approval. Exchange of plant genetic material is subjected to a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) within the frame of national law and International Treaty (IT) agreements.
The General Directorate of Vegetative Production (BUGEM) is mainly in charge of incentives, subsidies, production, supply, import, export, registrations, certifications, inspections and protection of new plant varieties (website only in Turkish). The Registration and Certification Center (VRSCC) under BUGEM is in charge of registration of new plant varieties and the control and certification of seeds of varieties that are registered or have production permission.
These varieties are published in the National List of Varieties. Field and laboratory tests (distinctness, uniformity, stability tests and the tests for measurement of agricultural values) related to candidates of new varieties are conducted by the VRSCC. In order to be imported, exported or distributed in Turkey a variety must be recorded in the National Variety List or permitted list (VRSCC web site).
Varieties bred or developed within the country, bred and registered or bred but not registered abroad and local (village) varieties can be applied for registration. Landraces grown by farmers/gardeners are allowed to trade if they are registered according the Seed Law No. 5553. However, farmers are allowed to produce seed for their own use and for exchange with other farmers.
BUGEM has released a draft regulation on the Registration and Marketing of Landraces on the web site of Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The purpose of this regulation is to register the local varieties to be a matter to trade by underlying the rules on production of seed, marketing, on-farm maintenance and sustainable use of seed in order to prevent genetic erosion of local varieties of field crops, vine and other plant species in Turkey.
A series of regulations, based on Article 6 of the Seed Law No. 5553, have been made about seed certification and marketing legislation in Turkey. They cover the procedures and principles for the production and marketing of certified seeds according to quality standards.
The activities on registration of varieties and genetic resources of field crops, vine sapling and other plant varieties and authorization and inspection of private sector research organizations are subjected under the Regulation on Registration of Plant Varieties (31.01.2008).
The regulations concerning plant production and propagation materials in Turkey have been in force by viewing EU directives and taking into account the realities of our country.
Collection from the nature, production, harvesting, storage and export of seed, onion, tuber, rhizome, korm or other parts of natural bulbous plants are subject to the provisions of the regulation on the Collection from Nature, Production and Export of Flower Bulbs (March 2017).
Turkey as being part of IPPC and EPPO entered into force the Regulation on the Quarantine of Plant (03.12.2011) including phytosanitary regulations in the context of the Law of Agricultural Plant Protection and Agricultural Quarantine Law No. 6968 published in the Official Gazette of 24.05.1957 dated.
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