Green Forest School [EN]

About Us

Green Forest School was officially established in 2018 as a social enterprise, built upon dedicated efforts and projects carried out since 2013.

Our core vision is to build a sustainable future by helping new generations understand, respect, and connect with nature. We focus on environmental rights for children, nature-based education for youth, and aromatherapy and medicinal plant workshops for women. As a non-profit-driven social enterprise, our activities center around forest kindergartens, educator training, advocacy, concept consulting, and publishing.

General Objectives

  1. Environmental & Ecological Action: Developing projects and activities addressing climate change, forest management, biodiversity, combating desertification, and protecting natural resources.

  2. Rights-Based Advocacy: Advocating for environmental and ecological rights, sustainable development, and child rights.

  3. Education & Collaboration: Conducting research, organizing training sessions, building partnerships, publishing resources, and facilitating community solidarity.

Fields of Activity

  • Conservation & Sustainable Management: Protecting and sustainably managing rural environments, water resources, soil, agriculture, pastures, and forests.

  • Climate Action & Land Restoration: Working on climate change adaptation, watershed management, combating natural disasters (erosion, floods, avalanches, landslides), and balancing land degradation.

  • Innovative Natural Resource Solutions: Evaluating ecosystem services, highlighting forest externalities, protecting wildlife and animal rights, implementing zero-waste and recycling practices, advancing carbon economy awareness, and applying permaculture practices.

  • Sustainable Forestry & Community Support: Promoting participatory forestry practices, supporting forest-dwelling communities through cooperatives, and emphasizing meritocracy and modern management principles in forestry.

Our Key Milestones & Achievements

  • Forest Kindergarten Programs: Hosted multi-week Forest Kindergarten sessions reaching hundreds of children (2018–2020), emphasizing child participation and outdoor learning.

  • Workshops & Conferences: Organized national Forest School Education Workshops across Turkey (Ankara, Kayseri, Eskişehir, and Üsküdar).

  • Advocacy & Rights Monitoring: With support from the EU Etkiniz Program, launched Turkey's first "Children's Environmental Rights Workshop" (2022) and published indicators for monitoring healthy, clean, and sustainable educational environments (2023).

  • Ecotourism & Healing Paths: Developed the "Cittaslow Güdül Healing Path Project" and published comprehensive guides on medicinal and aromatic plants supported by GEF SGP / UNDP Turkey.

  • Publications: Authored 8 published books, including the Landscape Guide for Kindergartens and the Animal Rights Guide for Forest Schools.

Core Values

  • Ethics & Integrity: Transparent, trustworthy, and accountable operations.

  • Innovation & Science: Evidence-based, innovative methods in nature education.

  • Collaboration: Strong partnerships with local governments, civil society, and educators.

Founders

  • Mustafa Çetin – Educator & Forest Engineer

  • Şifa Besler – Educator & Entrepreneur

  • Süleyman Çetin – Educator & Environmental Engineer

Contact Information