Karadeniz Technical University (KTU) contributes to the protection and sustainable use of regional ecosystems through collaboration with local communities. Our faculty members actively work not only on addressing environmental and social challenges of the region but also on adding value to local products in the economy and supporting sustainable production processes. These efforts enhance cooperation with local stakeholders through joint projects, collaborative research, and training programs. Thus, KTU continues to support sustainable development with an integrated approach that takes into account both environmental and economic dimensions.
KTU has taken an important step by joining the “Future of Sustainable Forest Management – TRANSFORMIT” Cooperation Project, launched to integrate societal needs with biodiversity conservation. By participating, KTU will play a significant role in forestry, focusing on biodiversity-friendly forest management. TRANSFORMIT is defined as a large-scale initiative aiming not only to provide theoretical perspectives but also to address concrete policy and practical guidance needs. Through the stakeholder engagement platform, forestry institutions, practitioners, forest owners, research organizations, certification bodies, and other stakeholders will create new synergies. The project will also develop evidence-based guidelines to expand Integrated Forest Management (IFM) recommendations. (News link)
On May 23, 2024, the KTU Landslide Research Center, together with the General Directorate of Combating Desertification and Erosion, carried out field studies in the city center of Gümüşhane. (News link)
On May 23, 2024, the KTU Landslide Research Center, in cooperation with the General Directorate of Combating Desertification and Erosion, conducted field studies regarding the landslide that occurred in the Rize-Güneysu district center. Following the studies, it was decided that a detailed technical report would be prepared by the center. (News link)
Within the scope of a protocol signed between Akçaabat Municipality and KTU, research will be conducted on the pharmaceutical potential of Aronia, also known as the superfruit. The protocol was signed by KTU Rector Prof. Dr. Hamdullah Çuvalcı and Akçaabat Mayor Osman Nuri Ekim. The cooperation, carried out with the KTU Drug and Pharmaceutical Technology Application and Research Center (ILAFAR), aims to contribute to local development and sustainable use of agricultural products. (News link)
In the laboratories of KTU, fungal spores are being produced to combat the invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys), which harms agricultural products, especially hazelnuts. According to Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir from the Department of Biology, the insect reproduces rapidly in Türkiye since it currently has no natural enemy. Laboratory tests with fungal spores have shown promising results in suppressing the pest’s population, demonstrating the potential of biological control methods alongside chemical strategies. (News link)
