The Stakeholders Meeting of the project titled “GreenS4BlackSea – Protection of Virgin Forests as a Green Solution for the Black Sea,” implemented under the European Union NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme (Interreg VI-B), was held on April 6, 2026, at the Artvin Çoruh University Ali Nihat Gökyiğit Botanical Garden, under the chairmanship of the Project Coordinator, Prof. Dr. Özgür Eminağaoğlu.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Artvin Regional Directorate of Forestry, one of the project stakeholders, including Deputy Regional Director Tekin Işık, Forest Enterprise Director Tuncay Bilmiş, Head of Forest Administration and Planning Department Nedim Tüylü, Acting Head of Afforestation and Silviculture Department Cihangir Dedeağaoğlu, Head of Forest Fire Fighting Department Turgay Vatan, and Chief of Nature Conservation and National Parks Feyyaz Ayık.

Within the scope of the meeting, the project was introduced, and its overall objective, rationale, and implementation framework were shared with the stakeholders. A general evaluation of the project outputs and expected results was conducted, with particular focus on common regional challenges and the innovative aspects of the approach developed to address them. In addition, methodologies for the survey applications to be used in field studies under the project were developed, and technical views were exchanged on potential virgin forest areas to be assessed within the study area.

Furthermore, planning was carried out regarding the dates, participant profiles, and content of the activities to be held in Artvin in April, including the project’s promotional Kick-off Meeting, National Meeting, Regional Workshop, and tree planting event.

Up-to-date information on the trainings and activities to be carried out within the scope of the project will be available on our website and social media accounts.