Nature tours are organized to explore, learn about, and introduce the natural areas of our country. To ensure the sustainability of resources, effective site management, conservation, visitor safety, and proper visitor guidance, all organizers of such activities must obtain permission from the relevant authorities.
Permit Applications and Procedures
- Applications may be submitted in person or by mail, fax, or email to the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks or to Provincial Directorates, and are generally concluded within 10 business days.
- Before the tour, the rules to be followed in nature should be shared with all participants and compliance should be ensured by the organizers.
- Fees and permitted durations for tours, photography, and filming are determined and announced annually by the General Directorate.
Protection of Flora and Fauna
- Rare, endemic, endangered, or potentially threatened plant species within protected areas must not be damaged, collected, uprooted, or cut in any way; wildlife eggs may not be collected and nests may not be disturbed.
- Tours are not permitted in strictly protected zones or in areas that are unsafe to enter for general security reasons.
- Wildlife must not be harmed.
- No activity may be carried out that pollutes the area, damages flora, or disturbs fauna.
Birdwatching and Photography
- No action that could harm birds is allowed during tours; individuals must not be disturbed, nests and chicks must not be touched, and no tissue or blood samples may be taken for any reason.
- Birdwatching and imaging are not allowed during breeding periods.
- Professional photography and filming may not be conducted without the necessary permissions from the Ministry.
- Travel agencies organizing hunting tourism, photography, filming, or wildlife observation tours for foreign visitors in Turkiye must hold the required hunting tourism certificate from the Ministry.
Interaction with Wild Animals
- Wild animals encountered during tours must not be frightened or followed.
- If the route overlaps with the direction taken by an observed animal, visitors should wait for an appropriate period and continue slowly without approaching in a way that would disturb the animal.
Environmental Protection Rules
- Visitors must take back any waste they generate.
- Making loud noise or listening to music at high volume during tours is prohibited.
- Lighting fires is prohibited in these areas.
- No intervention may be made that causes or may cause the loss or alteration of the characteristics of protected areas, or that leads to soil, water, or air pollution or similar environmental issues.
Visitor Management and Safety
- The administration provides necessary warnings for visitor safety, while additional precautions must be taken by event organizers.
- If certified site guides are available, visitors are required to tour the area together with them.
- Visitors may not leave the designated zones and routes in protected areas, both for the conservation of the site and for their own safety.
- Conditions of use and visitor capacity are determined by the administration and may not exceed the area's carrying capacity.
Strict Protection Zones
- In strictly protected zones, where natural resources are intended to remain in their natural state without human impact, use of the area and uncontrolled movement by visitors are strictly prohibited without the knowledge of the administration.
- In planned areas, visitor management and use are implemented within the framework of approved plans and these decisions may not be exceeded.
Vehicle Use
- How a tour route may be used, whether by vehicle or on foot, is defined in the relevant long-term development and management plans. Vehicles outside these plan decisions may not be used.
- In areas without a management plan, only vehicles deemed appropriate by the administration and not harmful to the environment should be used.
Wetlands
- No activity may be carried out in wetlands that would affect the water regime.
- No alien species may be introduced into wetlands for any purpose, and no species may be collected from them.
Legal Sanctions
These rules are prepared in accordance with Circular 2007/1 of the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks. Those acting in violation of the circular are subject to the penalties set forth in Environmental Law No. 2872. If prohibited acts under Forest Law No. 6831 or Fisheries Law No. 1380 are committed in areas where National Parks Law No. 2873 applies, the penalties are increased by one fold.
Complete implementation of these rules is important for sustainable wildlife and protected area management, conservation of resources, transfer to future generations, visitor safety, and the monitoring and guidance of visitors entering protected areas.