Sometimes good things happen, and the stakeholders can find common ground on solutions… We believe it is very important that the stakeholders of “drought-tolerant landscaping,” a topic that is increasingly being neglected in landscaping practices, come together. The news that closely concerns plant producers and landscape architects is this: The Union of Municipalities of Turkey and the Chamber of Landscape Architects of the Union of Turkish Chambers of Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) discussed the topic of “Sustainable Water Management and Drought-Tolerant Landscaping.”.

 TBB and PMO meeting

The Union of Municipalities of Turkey (TBB) paid a visit to the Chamber of Landscape Architects of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB). The meeting was attended by TBB Deputy Secretary General Feridun Ulutaş and the President of the TMMOB Chamber of Landscape Architects, Barış Işık.

The meeting focused on prioritizing projects in the earthquake-affected provinces and utilizing sustainable methods in their reconstruction. To this end, the implementation of a "Drought-Tolerant Landscape Best Practice Project" in one of the earthquake-affected provinces, showcasing water-saving model applications, was discussed. (Perhaps we should now call it "Resilient Landscape" instead of "Drought-Tolerant").

Furthermore, the possibility of organizing a national-level program on "Sustainable Water Management and Drought-Tolerant Landscapes" for the landscape, public works, and infrastructure units of all 81 provincial municipalities was evaluated, along with the necessary legislative arrangements to protect the ecological structure of cities and create a sustainable urban fabric. On the other hand, the signing of a protocol to strengthen cooperation and expand the areas of work between professional organizations and the Union of Turkish Municipalities of Turkey (TBB) was also discussed during the meeting.

Landscape designs that use almost no plants are becoming increasingly common.

During the visit, PMO was represented by its 16th Term President Barış Işık, Vice President Özay Yerlikaya, General Secretary Dr. Nihan Yegin Yarayan, General Treasurer Sercan Yılmaz, and Board Member Engin Musa Gürcan, while TBB was represented by Deputy General Secretary Feridun Ulutaş and Director of Urban Planning and Development Süleyman Üçel.