Sedat Kalem

Dr. Sedat Kalem, is a professional environmentalist, recently retired from the position of Conservation Director at WWF-Turkey, the national office of WWF, world's largest nature conservation network, whose mission is defined as conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of natural resources.

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His professional career is structured upon three dimensions: A BSc degree on forest resource management (Istanbul University, 1986); MSc (Yıldız Technical University, 1989) and PhD degrees (Ankara University, 2001) on landscape planning; with more than a 25 years of professional development on nature conservation and environment.

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He joined WWF-Turkey in 1997, where he initially established the Forest Program and was promoted in 2007 to lead the whole conservation department composed of six programs, including marine, freshwater, forest, biodiversity, food, climate.

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He previously worked (1995-1997) at the Forest Management and Planning Dep of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, where he was in charge of field inventories and preparation of forest management plans. He also took part in the Turkish delegation of the Ministry at the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests of the UN (IFF, Feb 1997).

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Dr. Kalem started his professional career in the landscaping components of Turkey’s first motorway projects connecting Anatolia to Europe through the FSM (second) bridge over the Bosporus (1989-1990). He continued in landscaping sector at the Gulf state of Bahrain where he was involved in the landscape design and development of a resort island and private properties of the royal family (1991-1995). 

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He completed The WWF College for Conservation Leadership (2004-2006) where he was exposed to Personal Effectiveness, Leadership Skills, Effective Communications, Negotiation & Conflict Resolution, Advocacy & Lobby, Campaigning, Project Financial Management, Economy and the Environment.

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He also attended the International Visitor Program of the US Department of State on Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development (2004). He lectured on Nature Conservation and Tourism at the Yeditepe University of Istanbul (2002).

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His responsibilities as Conservation Director of WWF-Turkey included (among others) leading the conservation team in charge of marine, freshwater, forest, biodiversity, food and climate; representing the organization at national/int’l fora; reviewing draft policy documents, (incl national legislation, strategies, plans) on environment; networking with potential partners; advocacy and lobby, safeguarding priority sites and species; drafting/editing reports, position papers, articles, project concepts, proposals to ensure scientific accuracy and adherence to corporate policy, etc.

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He has been involved in a variety of projects, activities and reports, articles, incl. the following:

•   WWF Living Planet Report(s):  A biannual science-based analysis, on the health planet Earth and the impact of human activity based on Living Planet Index and Ecological Footprint (1998-2024)

•   Türkiye’nin Canı: Grant program for strengthening local initiatives in addressing environmental issues

•   Green Recovery and Reconstruction: Training Toolkit for Humanitarian Aid Protected Areas for a Sustainable Turkey

•   The loss of nature and the rise of pandemics

•   Strengthening the capacity of local NGOs and media in EIA and SEIA processes

•   Towards Sustainable Hazelnut Production in NE Turkey

•   Turkey’s Wheat Atlas: The diversity of local wheat races in Turkey

•   Water Stewardship in B. Menderes Basin

•   Turkey’s Ecological Footprint

•   Adapting Türkiye’s Mediterranean Forests to Climate Change

•   Kaş-Kekova MPA:  Project, aiming at strengthening marine protected area man. and local capacity

•   Integrated River Basin Management in the Eastern Black Sea Mountains

•   Effective Protected Area Management and Sustainable Resource Use in Igneada

•   Ecoregion Conservation in the Caucasus

•   Implementation of Rapid Assessment and Prioritization of Protected Area Management in Turkey.

•   Biodiversity Analysis of South-East Anatolia

•   Important Plant Areas of Turkey

Dr. Sedat Kalem is currently an Executive Board Member of the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO and the Head of the National Man & Biosphere Committee.

He is currently attending an online training program on Sylvotherapy to become a certified forest therapy practitioner.

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In addition to Turkish (mother tongue), he is fluent in speaks English.