Project activities will take place at Yumurtalık Lagoons in Adana and at Erzurum Marshes. Yumurtalık Lagoons have a surface area of 16,700 ha and are made up of lagoons, salt marshes, freshwater marshes, wet meadows, dunes and an Aleppo Pine forest by the Ceyhan and Seyhan rivers in eastern Çukurova Delta, and is considered to be one of the most important wetlands throughout the Mediterranean Basin.

The area provides an important opportunity for feeding, sheltering and breeding birds, some of which are rare or threatened. Especially during the migration period, the total bird population reaches enormous numbers. One of the most beautiful sand dunes of the Mediterranean coast still remains between the lagoons and the sea. The Yumurtalık Gulf is the only location known for the wintering area of the green turtle. The Yumurtalık and Yelkoma fisheries located in the lagoon are the most important fisheries of our country. Thanks to these features, the area has been declared a Natural Site in 1993 and Nature Reserve in 1994. The main problems occurring in the Yumurtalık Lagoons are the change of the riverbed of Ceyhan river in 1930, pollution caused by the industries and settlements, the transformation of meadows and sand dunes to agricultural lands, illegal hunting and harvesting of fish fry.

As in the other wetlands in Turkey, the root cause of the problems occuring in the Yumurtalık Lagoons are “ the lack of knowledge about the wetlands values and functions, the lack of a management plan prepared with a participatory approach, the lack of a mechanism that will provide participation of the stakeholders in decision and administrative processes”. Accordingly, the project aims to address the source of these problems.

The Erzurum Marshes, on the other hand, covers about 1,200 ha, and is the only wetland that the pipeline crosses through. Furthermore, as a result of interference in the past, it has lost its size and permanence to a certain extent. It is important to carry out with a small budget the basic research in the area by identifying the Conservation areas in conformity with the Wetlands Conservation Regulations. This will considerably improve the conservation and the wise use of the area.

The activities under the project are expected to be completed in November 2007.

The project will be lead by KAD, TdV and ÇETKO as a joint venture. In addition, active participation of the Ministry of Forest and Environment in particular, but also of relevant public institutions, relevant scientists and NGOs, aquaculture cooperatives, hunters associations will be secured.

To develop management tools for conservation and wise use of Yumurtalık Lagoons and to define land use in Erzurum Marshes in conformity with the Wetlands Conservation Zones Regulations.

The project will cover the Adana Yumurtalık Lagoons and Erzurum Marshes.

A strong communication and collaboration between all the parties such as relevant public institutions, local academic institutions, water products cooperatives, hunting associations, farmer unions and local NGO’s will be set up. This approach will bring the share of the experience and information, and will bring the fact that each party will claim and apply the responsibilities they have undertaken. On the other hand, the “Local Wetland Commissions” that will be set up will be an important tool to provide the full participation of the stakeholders. A management plan adopted and applied by all the stakeholders and an efficient working Local Wetland Commission will constitute an important example for the other wetlands management plans in Turkey.

The identification of the Erzurum Marshes Wetland Conservation Zones; will provide the efficient conservation of the wetland values of the area; and will create the right land use opportunities in the area.