Management plan for the Historic Peninsula-Istanbul

Ms. NURAN ZEREN GULERSOY

Dr. Professor ITU

Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture (ECOC) Agency has financed the “preparation processes”
of the Site Management Plan, designed as a four-phase study to be accomplished in one year and
supported by several participatory workshops with experts and key stakeholders.

“Management Site” and “Management Plan” concepts are represented in Turkey, in Act Number
2863 Conservation of Cultural and Natural Assets with the revision ratified in 2004.

According to the Act, “management site” includes; “places formed in order to ensure coordination
between central government authorities, local governments, non-governmental organizations, and
boundaries determined by the Ministry in consideration of the sought opinions of related bodies for
the effective preservation, excavation and evaluation of conservation areas, historical sites and
interaction sites in their natural integrity, developing around a particular vision and theme while
serving the cultural and educational needs of society”.

A “Management plan” in turn should indicate annual and quinquennial implementation stages and
budgets for preservation and conservation which are formed in consideration of business plans,
excavation plans, and conservation development plans in order to provide the preservation,
sustenance and assessment of the management site reviewed quinquennially.

The preparation period for the Istanbul Site Management Plan has been designed as a four-phase
structure:

Phase 1: Conducting and combining analytical studies capturing the psychical, social and institutional
dimensions to establish a common database with major projects affecting the Site supported with
participatory workshops where key stakeholders contribute,

Phase 2: Carrying out participatory workshops to mature SWOT analysis, to determine a vision with
main objectives in a strategic framework for the Site by letting key stakeholders and experts make
use of the information generated in the first phase,

Phase 3: Focusing on objectives and strategies in order to come up with action plans and programs
with participatory workshops,

Phase 4: Sharing the draft Site Management Plan with the public for feedback before finalization.