Dalyan-Koycegiz Special Protected Area
CASE description
Dalyan-Köycegiz Specially Protected Area (SPA) is situated at the south-west coast of Turkey. It has a very diverse landscape of rivers, fresh water lake, delta, lagoons, sandy beaches, hills and sloping pine forests. The length of the sea coast is about 12 km. The area of the SPA is 461.5 km2.
ICZM
ICZM implementation is currently in the phase of Establishment
Main coastal issues
- Water quality management
- Climate change impacts
- Nature conservation
- Management of habitats of endangered species (marine turtles)
- Management of recreational activities and boat traffic in the Delta
- Fisheries
- Urban sprawl
Relation between the coastal issues and the ICZM protocol principles and articles
The following GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF INTEGRATED COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT (listed in Article 6 of the Barcelona Protocol on ICZM in the Mediterranean) are relevant for the work carried out in this CASE.
(b) All elements relating to hydrological, geomorphological, climatic, ecological, socio-economic and cultural systems shall be taken into account in an integrated manner, so as not to exceed the carrying
capacity of the coastal zone and to prevent the negative effects of natural disasters and of development.
(d) Appropriate governance allowing adequate and timely participation in a transparent decision-making process by local populations and stakeholders in civil society concerned with coastal zones shall be ensured.
(h) The allocation of uses throughout the entire coastal zone should be balanced, and unnecessary concentration and urban sprawl should be avoided.
(j) Damage to the coastal environment shall be prevented and, where it occurs, appropriate restoration shall be effected.
Also, the following articles of the Protocol are related to the coastal issues and the project work handled by our CASE:
Article 9 : Economic activities Article 10 : Special coastal ecosystems Article 14 : Participation Article 15 : Awareness raising, ... Article 22 : Natural Hazards
Relevance of the coastal issues
Köyceğiz- Dalyan SPA is unique coastal system having different sub-units such as the sea; freshwater lake; estuary, lagoons and wetlands; sand spit; agricultural land, hills and forest. One can identify rich ecotopes of different ecosystems all over the SPA’s dry and wet areas. The sand spit that serves as the divider between the sea and the estuary, lagoon and wetland system is one of the top nesting beaches of the loggerhead turtle (caretta c. caretta) in the whole Mediterranean. Protection of this flagship marine species is of international concern and has been a major activity under the Mediterranean Action Plan since early 1980s. Therefore, it is not only and ecological issue, a political one as well. Tourism, fisheries and agriculture are the major economic activities in the SPA. All of the identified issues are significant for productivity and sustainability of these sectors.
Work on local indicators, based on the final PEGASO set, for monitoring the changes in the SPA is continuing. It will be one of the key subjects in the third phase of our studies.
Objectives
- To increase local community awareness
- To enhance collaboration of authorities and public involvement in coastal management
- To enhance knowledge of tools and methods for ICZM
Planned results of the case study
- Development of participatory approaches and dissemination actions
- Capacity Building (with regard to ICZM and PEGASO tools)
- A report on the state-of-the-art of the main coastal management issues of the SPA.
PEGASO tools developed and used
Indicators - Participatory methods
CASE Responsible
Erdal Özhan, Mediterranean Coastal Foundation - email: ozhan@metu.edu.tr
Elaboration: Stefano Soriani, Fabrizia Buono, Monica Camuffo, Marco Tonino, University Ca’ Foscari of Venice.
