The 6th International Conference on Environmental and Forest Protection (ICEFC-2025) has begun at Kastamonu University. The conference, which began on November 18, 2025, in the Sezai Karakoç Hall of the Central Library, is being held in collaboration with our University, Mindanao State University, Bogor Agricultural University, and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Tropical Biology from November 18 to 21, 2025.

As part of the conference, academics, researchers, and institutional representatives from Türkiye, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, Bulgaria, Iran, Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, China, and the United States are coming together. A total of 140 papers will be presented over four days, in both online and in-person sessions, on topics such as climate change, forest conservation, biodiversity, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable environmental policies.

Following a moment of silence and the playing of the national anthems of Turkey, Indonesia, and the Philippines, the opening address of the program was delivered by the Dean of the Faculty of Forestry and Conference President, Prof. Dr. Mahmut Gür. 

Prof. Dr. Gür stated that the conference has become an important meeting point in the field of international environmental sciences for six years, adding, "I hope that this four-day scientific program will open doors to new collaborations, strengthen interdisciplinary discussions, and provide new perspectives in the fields of environmental and forest conservation. We are very happy to welcome you to Kastamonu," he said.

Following Prof. Dr. Gür, Prof. Dr. Paisalin Pangandaman Tago, President of Mindanao State University (MSU), emphasized that environmental problems are felt more acutely, especially in island nations, and stated that disasters such as increasing floods, droughts, and coastal erosion in the Philippines highlight the importance of sharing scientific knowledge. 

Stating that engineering studies suitable for the new natural conditions are becoming widespread in the Philippines, Prof. Dr. Tago said, "The speed of change in tropical regions makes international cooperation not just a preference, but a necessity." 

Later, Prof. Dr. Lailan Syaufina from Bogor Agricultural University delivered her speech. Syaufina emphasized that the role of communities in environmental protection is extremely important, highlighting that local knowledge, cultural values, and community participation are indispensable elements for nature-based solutions to be effective, sustainable, and lasting.

Prof. Dr. Syaufina stated, "Innovation and community participation are of great importance in the areas of climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable food systems. "Joint programs, research collaborations, and academic exchange activities within the framework of ISFP activities have made significant contributions to strengthening this shared mission," she said. 

Bangsamoro-Turkish Education Academy (BTEA) Rector, Attorney Mehmet Oruç Sasa, provided information about the institution to the participants. Rector Sasa stated that the BTEA, which has been operating for three years, will graduate its first students this year, and that the Academy will further develop and make significant contributions to the region through the collaborations to be established.

In the final part of the opening speeches, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, took the floor. Our Rector stated that environmental management, sustainability, and natural resource management are now the shared responsibility of all societies, emphasizing that climate change and biodiversity loss have far-reaching global impacts. 

“I believe this conference will have a significant impact not only through its scientific outputs but also by fostering new collaborations among researchers from different countries”. He concluded his speech by saying that scientific studies are a fundamental force for sustainable environmental policies, innovative practices, and the development of environmental awareness in society. 

The conference's opening ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates of appreciation to the participants.