Announcement of Turkey Eastern Anatolia Watershed Rehabilitation Project on March 15, 1993

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. * Telephone: (202) 477-1234 BANK NEWS RELEASE NO. 93/60 Contact: Peter Riddleberger Tel: (202) 473-1786 TURKEY: EASTERN ANATOLIA WATERSHED REHABILITATION PROJECT The following is information on a project approved by the World Bank's Board. DATE: March 15, 1993 WORLD BANK GROUP SUPPORT: World Bank loan: $77 million. The World Bank loan is for 17 years, including five years of grace, with a variable interest rate, currently 7.43 percent, linked to the cost of the Bank's borrowings. It also carries an annual commitment charge of 0.25 percent on the undisbursed balance. TOTAL COST: $115.5 million OTHER PROPOSED FINANCING: Government of Turkey, $33.4 million; Global Environmental Trust, $5.1 million IMPLEMENTING AGENCY: Ministry of Forestry; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 2000 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The objective of the Eastern Anatolia Watershed Rehabil- itation Project is to restore fertility to badly degraded soils and reduce erosion in upland areas in three low income provinces in Eastern Turkey, improve agricultural production, and strengthen provincial rural services to farmers. A Global Environmental Trust subproject will establish gene conserva- tion areas for the protection of indigenous herbaceous and woody plant species. The project includes (a) rehabilitation of an estimated 54 micro- catchments through fallow reduction, increased fodder production, soil moisture conserving farming techniques, improved range management and range enrichment, and oak coppice rehabilitation and afforestation; (b) support of activities with income benefits to the local population, such as small-scale irrigation, horticulture, apiculture, genetic improvement of livestock, agro- forestry, and fruit trees; (c) support to project planning and management, training and technical assistance; and (d) adaptive research and pilot work on alternative soil and moisture conservation methods, aerial seeding of range- land, and community management of forests.