Iğdır province, located on the slopes of Mount Ararat and within the Aras basin, has a microclimate. Despite covering only about 0.5% of Turkey’s area, Iğdır borders three countries and hosts 9 of the world’s 34 climate types. Approximately 8-9% of Turkey’s flora and a significant portion of its fauna are found here, including 30% of vertebrates, 20% of reptiles, and 335 of Turkey’s 489 bird species, with three newly recorded species between 2006-2019. This biodiversity-rich region offers unique opportunities for academic research in agriculture, veterinary science, pharmacology, hunting, and wildlife at the local university.

The aim of the Iğdır University Biodiversity Application and Research Center, which started its activities with the Official Gazette announcement on June 27, 2020, is to: 

1) Identifying and protecting the natural biodiversity resources of Iğdır and its surroundings in particular and Turkey in general, and utilizing them in the most efficient and sustainable way; 

2) Carrying out research, development and application activities to spread awareness of biological wealth, natural environment and natural resources in different segments of society; 

3) Cooperating with national and international institutions and organizations for the purpose of establishing herbariums, insectariums, museums, arboretums, gene banks and similar institutions containing Turkey's biological wealth in line with the relevant legislation.

1) To conduct research projects to reveal the biodiversity potential of Iğdır and its surroundings and Turkey, to encourage and guide the relevant authorities on the subject, to contribute to the development of Turkey's biological wealth databases with the local databases to be created.

2) To increase cooperation between public institutions, non-governmental organizations and the University on biodiversity in the context of eliminating the lack of education on biodiversity and updating the information.

3) To conduct studies on people's recognition and protection of biological wealth in Türkiye.

4) To monitor developments on biodiversity abroad and in the country, to convey these developments and to prepare publications on these subjects, to conduct research, to organize panels, congresses, conferences and similar meetings of national and international quality.

5) To provide audiovisual documents on biological wealth and to ensure that University academic staff, students and the public benefit from these resources.

6) To provide material for biotechnological studies and to work with national and international organizations to evaluate naturally developing living species as genetic resources in biotechnological studies.

7) To conduct scientifically based research and develop techniques in cooperation with relevant institutions and organizations in order to contribute to the development of regional ecotourism.

8) To raise public awareness about biosmuggling and provide training on this issue.

9) To organize camps and provide nature education for primary and secondary school students, university students and adults.

10) To guide foreign researchers in our country to conduct biological research, to ensure the control of the study and the use of materials (plants, insects, reptiles and similar living materials), and to work together with relevant public institutions and organizations on this issue.

11) To carry out other studies in accordance with the purpose of the center's establishment and the purposes and principles specified in the Higher Education Law.