15.3.3. Local biodiversity included in planning and development

METU includes local biodiversity in its planning and development processes, including the siting and design of new buildings.

Conservation zoning plan (28.02.2025)

The METU campus is governed by a conservation-oriented zoning plan prepared with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, first developed in 2014 and revised in 2017, to protect the campus's natural and architectural heritage. The ministry announced the METU Conservation Zoning Plan for the 'METU Campus Area' and 'METU Educational Facilities Area' in the Çankaya and Gölbaşı districts.

https://ankara.csb.gov.tr/ankara-ili-cankaya-ve-golbasi-ilcelerinde-odtu-koruma-amacli-imar-plani-kapsaminda-odtu-kampus-alani-odtu-egitim-tesisleri-alani-ankara-universitesi-egitim-alani-duyuru-456477

In practice

Site selection and planning for all new construction follows this plan, protects areas classified as forest land, and uses vacant areas not suitable for forestation. The METU Student Co-working Area, for example, was built on the site of former barracks without removing any trees.

Policy

METU's Nature and Ecosystems Policy requires local biodiversity to be taken into account in planning and development, such as the construction of new buildings.

METU Strategic Plan 2023–2027 (approved on 26 April 2022), Objective O4.2, requires METU to meet its need for new space while “protecting the unique spatial and architectural structure of our campuses, as well as the rich forest, steppe, sea, and lake ecosystem integrity and biodiversity”. The plan identifies the need for “constructing new buildings to meet the needs while preserving the original texture of the campus”.