Seed balls prepared from seeds of various plant species were released into nature at an event carried out by the Near East University Sustainability Club.
One of the simplest yet most effective ways to connect with nature is to entrust a seed to the soil. Starting from this idea, the Near East University Sustainability Student Club made a lasting contribution to both nature and social awareness by realizing a meaningful event. The event, realized with the participation of members of the Dağdoğan Hiking Academy, brought together students, academics, and nature enthusiasts around a common goal.

In the first phase of the event, students from the Sustainability Club and members of the Nature Hiking Group came together and mixed seeds of many species such as date palm, cherry, apricot, sour cherry, olive, carob, juniper, oak, and almond with natural fertilizer and soil. Hundreds of seed balls were prepared during this process, and the work went beyond being just an environmental practice, transforming into a social gathering where participants shared their experiences and exchanged ideas on sustainability.

The prepared seed balls were planted along the stream bed in the Tepebaşı Yorgoz Başpınar region with the participation of students, faculty members, and members of the nature walking group. During the field work, guided by Dağdoğan Sadrazam, detailed information was shared about the region’s vegetation, ecosystem structure, the role of seeds in nature, and the historical and geographical features of the area. Thus, the event became a nature and culture trip that offered participants experiential learning as well as environmental awareness.

At the end of the event, participants demonstrated their sense of responsibility towards nature by collecting plastic waste in the surrounding area using the cloth bags and buckets in which the seed balls were carried. This step showed that the event strengthened environmental awareness not only in words but also in action.

A conscious step that began with seed balls and extends to the future…
Planned and conducted in accordance with ecological methods with the contributions of club advisors Prof. Dr. Adile Öniz Özgören and Prof. Dr. Murat Özgören, the event yielded significant environmental and social gains. Within the scope of the project, significant steps were taken towards introducing new plants to nature through seed balls, supporting biodiversity, rehabilitating degraded areas through natural processes, and protecting terrestrial ecosystems. The event also drew attention to the fight against climate change, paving the way for environmental awareness to be reflected in daily life practices.

In their evaluation of the event, Büşra Elbüken, President of the Near East University Sustainability Club, and İdil Cebeci, Vice President, highlighted the dedicated efforts of the club’s management and members, stating that such projects strengthen environmental awareness among students and enable concrete steps towards a sustainable future.