Social Responsibility Projects

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND MONITORING

* Flora and Vegetation Conservation

Kazan Soda Elektrik started biodiversity activities in 2015 within the scope of the EIA report. As of 2018, the “Biodiversity Conservation and Monitoring Project” was implemented in order to protect the biological richness in our region within the framework of the Biological Diversity Action Plan. The project have been carried out under the coordination of Prof. Dr. Hayri Duman, a flora specialist and ecologist from Gazi Üniversitesi in Ankara.

As a result of four different field studies carried out in the Project area and its surroundings, 246 species and taxa at subspecies level belonging to 51 families were determined. 41 of the species and subspecies taxa detected in the study area are endemic for Turkey. Six of these are local endemics or regionally distributed, and the remaining 35 are widely distributed.

In order to protect endemic plant species and their habitats, “Kazan Soda Endemic Plant Conservation Area”, which is the first botanical garden established by the private sector in Turkey, was established. Endemic Plant Conservation Areas are diverse in the World and they are installed in different sizes and features. The establishment purposes of almost all of them are to provide preservation and exhibition of the flora of the region especially endemic and rare species and also providing a recreation area for the scientific purposes in the city. In addition Endemic Plant Conservation Areas are also places where scientific studies are carried out.

The purpose of the Endemic Plant Conservation Area is to create an area of protected species by ensuring its translocation, awareness in the conservation of our endemic species and to protect them. In this conservation area, locally and regionally distributed healthy populations of the species in the project area will be established. Currently, five locally and regionally distributed species show natural distribution in the area. This area provides both service to ensure the continuity of populations including critically distributed species and will also create awareness and promotion of the critical species.

From the project activity area, below listed species are translocated to botanical garden;

• Aethionema turcica
• Campanula damboldtiana
• Scutellaria yildirimlii
• Iris tchihatchewii

The seeds of these species are collected in suitable periods and delivered to Turkey Seed Gene Bank and species information is given. With this conservation work, the species will be preserved for future generations and the species diversity of Kazan Soda Endemic Plant Area, which is on its way to become a conservation area of endemic plant species in Ankara, has been increased.

* Terrestrial Fauna Conservation

As a part of biodivesity conservation and preservation project, faunistic evaluation of the area was monitored. 23 mammal, 64 bird, 3 reptile and 33 invertebrate species were identified in the region.

Currently, facility is in the operational phase. In order to determine the status of the terrestrial vertebrates, especially large mammal species whether to use the project sites and its immediate vicinity camera traps were set up to detect wildlife activity. Camera traps are set in a forested area in the northwest direction according to the geographical structure, and the possible migration and short-distance migration routes suitable for the use of mammals and also the presence of the settlement in the south of the facility.

Field studies and observations were made in and around the project area to detect other terrestrial vertebrates in order to understand whether or not other vertebrates were affected in the area.

Many studies have been initiated to ensure the conservation of the Anatolian ground squirrel, which is a mammal species native to this region. Signposts have been placed on the road route in order to raise the awareness of local people and our employees. The number of ground squirrels is monitored with observation points and camera traps, and their conservation is ensured.

BEEKEEPING INITIATIVE

In 2018, Kazan Soda started a beekeeping initiative within its facilities, in order to promote the profession and re-engage the local population with beekeeping. The beekeeping activities are run with a beekeeper from the region, Kudret Arıcı (‘Arıcı’). The honey produced from these activities is
distributed to Kazan Soda employees. The project started off with 50 beehives, and now the project produces honey from approximately 120 beehives. Beekeeping is not a popular profession in areas surrounding the Kazan Soda plant, and therefore the beekeeping Project has attracted attention as a source of knowledge in these matters. Kazan Soda also supports its beekeeping activities by planting lavender and acacia trees, two plants preferred by bees. The aim of the project is to revive beekeeping in the region and show the local populace that it could be a means for profit.

LAVENDER PROJECT

In 2018, 33,000 lavender flowers were planted in the area of the Kazan Soda facility. Kazan Soda’s aim is to increase lavender farming in the region, by beginning lavender oil production. Kazan Soda believes that if the local populace sees that lavender farming could be profitable, it will be taken up to a wider extent. The lavender project was also started in order to support Kazan Soda’s beekeeping initiative. Bees are attracted to flowers such as lavender.

 AFFORESTATION PROGRAMME

Being aware of the fact that another requirement to protect biodiversity is to prevent deforestation, we, as Kazan Soda Elektrik , continue our afforestation efforts every year. In this context, 133 saplings were planted in the relevant regions through the TEMA Foundation, and we planted 3605 plants and trees around the facility in 2021. Since 2018, over 55,000 trees have been planted in the region.

EMPOWERING WOMEN

As Kazan Soda Elektrik, we believe that empowering women and increasing women’s employment are an important factor in the sustainable growth of countries. In order to support women’s participation in the workforce, the economy and the world of entrepreneurship, training were held for women from
local villages.

On 30 October 2019, two separate training sessions relating to environmental awareness and environmental protection were given to local women in the Kazan Soda factory. Each session was attended by ten local women from the Incirlik, Fethiye and Ilyakut Villages. In 2021 Women and Youth Entrepreneurship training was held with the participation of 29 women from the local villages.

OTHER SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROJECTS

Kazan Soda Elektrik has dual and effective communication management to meet the expectations and needs of the local people in the region and municipal government where it operates. We support local people and municipal government with investments in infrastructure, donations, employment opportunities, and construction works.

We support a dog shelter close to our region to protect stray animals, which are a part of natural life and social life. In addition to the infrastructure needs of the shelter, we donate wet and dry food.

 

As Kazan Soda Elektrik, we provide scholarships to university, high school, and primary school students to support equality of opportunity in education. On the other hand, Kazan Soda Elektrik implements a traineeship program for engineering students from technical high schools and university students.

Kazan Soda provided blood support to the Turkish Red Crescent by organizing volunteer blood donations among its employees to save people’s lives and create hope.

Kazan Soda Elektrik was a sponsor of the Eco Climate Summit, the world’s first economy, and climate change fair, held between 30-31.03.2022. The Economy and Climate Change Summit, where the issues of “climate change” and “green transformation” were discussed, brought together many stakeholders such as; the business world, public institutions, organizations, local governments, universities, and international organizations.