Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 0905647

KuzeyDoga Society was established in 2008 as a result of the studies that the president of our NGO, Dr. Cagan Sekercioglu had started within the Kars-Igdir Biodiversity Project since 2003. The name “KuzeyDoga” is a modified version of the Turkish word “kuzeydoÄŸu” which means “northeast” that refers “northeast part of Turkey” where we work and the nature (doga) which we work with.

 The vision of KuzeyDoga Society is to prevent extinctions and consequent collapses of critical ecosystem processes while making sure that human communities benefit from conservation as much as the wildlife they help conserve. To reach this vision we integrate conservation education, research, capacity building and income generation, increase the contribution of ecotourism, especially birdwatching, to community-based conservation in the developing world, and strive to improve the role of the private sector in the conservation of biodiversity. KuzeyDoga Society works in Kars, Ardahan, Igdir and Agri provinces to reach her objectives. The main working areas of the society are the natural sites in these provinces. These natural sites are national parks, important bird areas, important plant areas and key biodiversity areas. Identifying the biodiversity of these sites and protecting these sites are the main goals of our society. We work mainly with birds, large carnivores, wetlands, wetland restoration, useful plants (ethnobotany), biological illustration, environmental education, developing nature tourism and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.  In a short period of time like in 3 years our society has had great successes. We have Lake Kuyucuk Ramsar Site designated as Turkey’s 13, eastern Anatolia’s first RAMSAR site, we received the Whitley Gold Award which is known as environmental Nobel Prize of UK, have Lake Kuyucuk designated as European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN) site of Turkey in 2009. Besides we have Turkey’s first artificial island constructed at Lake Kuyucuk Ramsar site to create a safe haven for birds and started the Turkey’s first vulture restaurant in Igdir. The headquarters of our NGO is based in Kars and we do have a 4 wheel drive Land Cruiser to be used for our project activities. KuzeyDoga Society provides volunteer opportunities for university students, nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers at Aras and Kuyucuk Bird Research Centers.