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GEF Small Grants
Programme Project
Abstract:
Surrounded by mountains, wetlands, marshes
turning to salty steppes in summer, reedbeds, creeks and
shrubs- the multiplicity of ecosistems it
contains gives the Gökova plain its environmental importance. Research by
Heike
THOL- SCHMITZ between 1986- 2001 showed a vital loss of the area’s more than 90
birdspecies, amongst them Coots, White Breasted Kingfishers and Garganey ducks; a
decimation among the 10 mammal species’ population (eg. Fishotters, Badgers);
and a noticeable loss among reptiles and amphibes such as Striped Terrapins,
Common Toads, Sheltopuskii and Agamae.
Fieldfruit of the plain consists mainly of
wheat, sesame and millet. Eucalypte trees are planted to be
cut. Despite Gökova being an SPA, burning reeds
for poaching is still a local traditional pastime. Regretably even globally
species like Pelicans, Bitterns and Fishotters fall victim to such doing.
Besides that the plain is endangered by an increasing pressure for development.
The whole of the Project’s focal area is the
most sensitive part of the „Gökova SPA“ and nominally
protected as well by being a „Protected Nature
Site“. The area is under jurisdiction of Ula, adjourning settlements being the
municipalities of Akyaka and Gökova
and the villages of Akcapinar and Gökce. There is only one NGO („Friends of Gökova- Akyaka“) dealing with environmental
issues.
The Projects „Local Solution Model“ introducts
the confirmation of local problems (via a „Local Work
Group“), research of their potential solutions
(via a „Project Research Group“) and pratical pilote appliances of these (via
the „Local Work Group“ and the local inhabitants of the area). Parallel to that
it aims to increase knowledge, conscious and capacity of three different target
groups: local inhabitants, visitors and tourists and the local administrations.
The „Local Solution Model“ aims at an „Auto
Protection Mechanism“ of the focal area by involving
the local inhabitants. „Biyo- Gökova’s“ main
target lies in trying to found a new philosophy by uniting the
area’s rural user, protector and biodiversity to
a symbiosys inwhere the sides benefit of each other, protect each other and
relate to each other. It’s main focus will be to create an alternative and
sustainable utilization model together with the people who live there.
If
you are interested in more details
of the project, please feel free to write us:
akyakadernek@hotmail.com
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