The "Workshop on River Basin Management from a Geomorphological Perspective," organized in collaboration with Kastamonu University and the Geomorphology Association, began with an opening program held on May 8, 2026. 

The program held in the Sezai Karakoç Hall of our university's Central Library was attended by Deputy Governor Hakan Kubalı, Kastamonu Mayor Hasan Baltacı, Provincial General Assembly Chairman Doğan Ünlü, Vice Rector Mehmet Atalan, President of the Geomorphology Association Hüseyin Turoğlu, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Fatma Zehra Pattabanoğlu, Head of the Geography Department Ekrem Mutlu, as well as academics and students.

After the moment of silence and the National Anthem, the program began with an opening speech by the Head of the Geography Department, Prof. Dr. Ekrem Mutlu, who stated that academics and young researchers from 18 different universities participated in the event.

During the workshop, Prof. Dr. Mutlu mentioned the reduction of problems encountered in forestry and expressed his hope that it would contribute to the development of scientific solutions to challenges in management processes and to the emergence of practical outcomes. 

The Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof. Dr. Fatma Zehra Pattabanoğlu, stated that the proper planning of river basins concerns not only a specific academic field but also the environment, urbanization, the sustainable use of natural resources, and the future of humanity. Emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary studies, Pattabanoğlu stated that such scientific activities are valuable for a sustainable future.

The President of the Geomorphology Association, Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Turoğlu, stated that river basins are living systems in constant change and that sustainable basin management plays an important role in increasing resilience against natural disasters. Emphasizing that basin management requires a multidisciplinary approach, Turoğlu noted that geomorphology is a fundamental component of this process. 

In his speech, Provincial General Assembly President Doğan Ünlü addressed the impacts of climate change on water resources, emphasizing the importance of water conservation, wastewater management, and reducing loss and leakage rates. Emphasizing the water losses in open-channel irrigation systems, Ünlü stated that future systems for storing rainwater will be necessary.

Kastamonu Mayor Hasan Baltacı stated that the workshop would yield significant outputs not only from an academic perspective but also in the areas of sustainable urbanization, disaster management, and natural resource policies. Stating that local governments have taken on important responsibilities in this process, Baltacı said they would closely monitor the results obtained from the workshop.

Delivering the final speech of the program, Deputy Governor Hakan Kubalı stated that Kastamonu possesses significant natural wealth, including forests, mountains, and rivers. Stating that the flood disasters experienced in previous years clearly demonstrated the importance of river basin management, Kubalı said that basin management, which encompasses floods, drought, climate change, and irrigation works, is a priority.

Emphasizing that water management is a critical issue for sustainable living, Kubalı stated that the basin management approach has become inevitable given the transboundary nature of rivers and expressed his hope for a productive workshop. 

The program concluded with the presentation of plaques to the participants and a commemorative photo shoot. Within the two-day workshop, sessions and scientific evaluations on various topics related to river basin management will be held.