The effects of different cultures on forestry policies (Colombia and Turkey example)

Turkey and Colombia are two completely different cultures due to their geographical location. This research has been aimed at exposing the effects of the unique conditions of two countries with completely different characteristics on forestry policies. Turkey is located in the northern hemisphere between Europe and Asia while Colombia in the Equatorial region of South America. The methodology used for this research is qualitative. In this research, the information was collected from the literature, government agencies, and data banks from international organizations. The forest legislation, forests and socio-cultural aspects of each country were compared, it showed that forestry policies emerged as a result of the following aspects: Turkey has hosted many ancient civilizations, it is a tired land. Its forests have been subjected to human oppression for centuries, however, Turkey has significant experience in managing forest resources, it has deep-rooted institutional structures. In contrast, Colombia is a much richer country in terms of forest resources, however, it is not skilled enough to manage this wealth. There is no absolute state dominance over the forests.