Kocaeli launches stork mapping project and reading initiatives

Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality has launched two distinct community-focused initiatives in Turkey: the ‘Kocaeli Stork Atlas Project’ and the ‘Reading City Club’ cultural program.

In collaboration with the Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, the Stork Atlas Project aims to map and record stork nests across 12 districts using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Coordinated by the Ormanya Nature Conservation and Research Unit, the project tracks nest locations on structures like mosque domes and utility poles. It utilizes a ‘citizen scientist’ model, allowing residents to contribute data, including photos and nest counts, via a dedicated digital platform to help monitor ecological risks like habitat loss and drought.

Simultaneously, the municipality is promoting reading culture through the ‘Reading City Club’. A recent event titled ‘Pages Opening to the Gulf’ featured a group reading of Sabahattin Ali’s ‘Kuyucaklı Yusuf’ during a ferry journey from İzmit to Değirmendere. The event included cello performances and a walking campaign where books were distributed to citizens to encourage reading habits and social interaction.