Status: On-going

Project duration: December 2022- August 2023

 

The issue

Gediz Delta is one of the most important wetlands in the Mediterranean Basin with its biological diversity. Although it has national and international protection status, it is faced with many threats, especially construction, as it is in the metropolis of Izmir, whose population exceeds 4 million.

 

The solution

Gediz Delta is one of the 14 Ramsar sites of international importance in Turkey. In order to ensure the sustainable management of the Delta, is the project aims to increase the awareness of the people of Izmir, local decision makers and local civil society on the importance of the delta.

Another goal of the project is to ensure the participation and engagement of civil society and experts in the management mechanisms of the delta.

 

Outcomes

• Reaching the children and youth of the Gediz Delta

Educational activities with children, youth and educators.

• Increase capacity of NGOs to engage decision-making mechanisms of the delta.

Increasing number of NGOs and experts will contribute management of the delta.

 

Impacts

– Monitoring and Defence of the Gediz Delta by different NGOs especially who work on food productions in delta.

– Engagement of local civil society organizations to decision-making processes for the sustainable use of the Gediz Delta.

 

About the organization

Nature Association – Doga Dernegi

Doga Dernegi is a non-profit civil society organization in Turkey and its work is driven by the demand to take action to sustain biodiversity. Since it was founded in 2002, Doga Dernegi has been leading or involved in numerous actions to conserve the nature of Turkey. Our association is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the partner of the BirdLife International in Turkey. Doga Dernegi has been working with thousands of members and volunteers to understand and protect the unique diversity of life. Everyone who defends the rights of nature; can become a member or volunteer of Doga Dernegi, regardless of language, religion, race or political opinion. Therefore, the base of the association consists of a wide network ranging from students to villagers, from researchers to artists, from travellers to bird watchers and activists.

The association, together with an international team of scientists, introduced the “Key Biodiversity Areas” method and published it in 2004. In 2006, It prepared the book “Key Biodiversity Areas of Turkey”. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has further developed the Key Biodiversity Areas methodology and adopted it as the international standard for the designation of protected areas.