Ramsar Sites of Turkey - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

tural values. Akyatan Lagoon
have been suppressed by rapidly growing and diversifying land use due to the potential
<strong>of</strong> its natural aspects such as the coastal area it is located, its geographical position,
landscape, soil structure. Having been designated as a protection site brought up the
pr<strong>of</strong>itability increased after the district was designated as a tourism region, suppressing
sand dunes <strong>of</strong> delicate balance. Concurrently, the agricultural activities on the sand
dunes additionally increased concerns about degeneration <strong>of</strong> the wetland.
In 1996, the Ministry <strong>of</strong> Environment and Forestry in cooperation with the Ministry <strong>of</strong>
Public Work and Housing prepared the environment plan including the entire natural
areas in the delta. The environment plan designated core zones, ecological impact zones
and buffer zones <strong>of</strong> the site, taking the wetland ecosystem and related habitats into
consideration,n. Special planning decrees, which regulate conservation and use
principles, were developed.
In the planning area, however, starting from sand dunes, intensive human activities are
observed in the surrounding areas <strong>of</strong> the wetlands. Despite all the protection measures;;
agricultural activiti
sand dunes delineating Akyatan Lagoon from south have continued increasingly so far.
Excessive ground water use for strawberry, melon and water melon cultivation leads to
salt water leaks into the ground water. Marshes in the Seyhan and Ceyhan riverbeds
were degenerated in order to fight with malaria and the chemicals use for this purpose
harmed the food chain in Akyatan Lagoon.
NATURAL RESOURCE USE
Akyatan Lagoon is an all-purpose wetland ecosystem making major contributions in the
local economy with agriculture, livestock production and fishery. Additionally, the site is a
significant haunt for tourism, birdwatching and photography.
Agriculture
A remarkable part <strong>of</strong> Seyhan Delta is used for agricultural purposes. Starting from
cotton;; grains, fruits, vegetables and paddy are cultivated. Peanut, strawberry,
cucumber, melon and watermelon cultivation on the plains located between the sand
dunes and the lake has intensified recently.
Taking the entire delta into consideration;; population density and agricultural fertility are
observed to be lower in the surrounding areas <strong>of</strong> the lake. Following the allocation <strong>of</strong>
agriculture lands for settlement and industrial activities, rapid population growth and
intensive migration led to increasing suppression over the natural areas <strong>of</strong> the delta.
Almost all <strong>of</strong> the seasonal wetlands around the lake have been drained and allocated for
agriculture. Sand dunes surrounding the lake have been flattened to be transformed into
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