Turkish activist awarded 'Green Nobel' to bring prize home for 1st time

By Gulseli Kenarli

IZMIR, Türkiye (AA) - A Turkish environmental activist has won the Goldman Environmental Prize, also known as "Green Nobel," to bring the award to Türkiye for the first time.

Zafer Kizilkaya, head of the Mediterranean Conservation Society, was awarded for his efforts to protect the ecosystem, with the help of rangers in special environmental protection zones, especially in the Gokova special environmental protection area on the Aegean coast of Türkiye.

Kizilkaya told Anadolu that the Green Nobel is a very selective award given to projects that combine many issues from biodiversity to climate, from food safety to securing the income of local communities.

"This is a great honor for me, Türkiye is receiving this award for the first time … As a non-governmental organization, we have done a good job with other stakeholders and government institutions standing by us," he said.

It should be used as an opportunity, according to Kizilkaya, as there is no reason for Türkiye not to become the European leader in marine protected areas.

He said they prevented illegal hunting by more than 90% thanks to the rangers, adding that the fishery income has started to increase at an incredible rate in Gokova as a result of three years of protection.

They set out to develop a rangers scheme for the protection of the declared areas and it improved with the support of the coast guard, and the Mediterranean Protection Society became the authority on this issue, he said.

"We have a team of 30 members, including rangers, field managers and academics. We have bases in two different areas in the gulfs of Gokova, Bozburun and Hisaronu, where we monitor sand sharks and Mediterranean seals," Kizilkaya added.

The Goldman Environment Prize has been awarded annually since 1989 by the Goldman Environmental Foundation, established by San Francisco philanthropists Richard and Rhoda Goldman. Award winners are chosen by an international jury from candidates nominated by a worldwide network of environmental organizations and experts in the field.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar