Regional Workshop on “Forest Genetic Recourses” kicks off in İzmit

Regional Training Workshop on Forest Genetic Resources in Central Asia and Eastern Europe is to be held in İzmit on 19-22 September 2011.The outcomes of this meeting will be foundation of the country report on Forest Genetic Resources to be prepared at the end of 2011. The meeting was attended by Erdoğan Şirin, vice head of Training and Research Department, Foreign Relations, researchers Dr. Murat Alan, Dr. Yasemin Tayanç and Dr. Gaye Kandemir, engineers Nihat Kaya and Kıymet Keleş, Mustafa Çiftçi from FAO/Turkey office and 11 experts from different countries. The opening speech was delivered by Erdoğan Şirin, vice head of Training and Research Department. “One of our priorities is to carry out the works related to the genetic resources conservation, which have been ongoing in Turkey and to increase the number of this kind of works”, said Şirin. He added that it is our aim to integrate our works on this issue into the works carried out on international level. He also stressed that in this context; cooperation on international level should be promoted and strengthened. Following the opening speech, Oudara SOUVANNAVONG, representative from FAO/HQ, gave a presentation on genetic works being conducted all over the world and the current state. Judy LOO, scientist with Bioversity International, stated that Bioversıty gives a great importance to the works concerning conservation and research on forest genetic resources, and that they will continue their works with a hope for the future generations.