|
Friends of Akyaka-Gökova
Newsletter, May 2004
About our
Biyo-Gökova Project:
-
Biyo- Gökova project has been revised
in order to open the way for investments of towns and villages covered by the
Biyo-Gökova project to supply sustainable development by using their
possibilities more effectively. From now on, the project is going to continue
its work by focusing on town and villages for the use of possibilities already
existent in each town and village.
-
In line with the Biyo-Gökova project
which is conducted with the contribution of UNDP/GEF, SGP, we have organized a
Stork Walk on 11 April 2004, to draw attention on the stork population of
Akçapinar. As it is well-known, the number of people travelling with the aim
of bird watching is increasing rapidly day by day and bird watching tourism is
standing out with its possibility to be able in other tourism fields.
-
With this walk, organized by
the Society of Friends of Gökova-Akyaka, foreign and native guests found an
opportunity to meet and exchange views with the locals in order to protect the
nature and provide a sustainable development of the Gökova plain which is one
of the important unspoilt areas of Turkey. Thus the storks, which chose
Akçapınar as their homes for centuries, made possible to provide the local
people with an income needless of big investments...
-
In line with the Biyo-Gökova project
which is conducted with the contribution of UNDP/GEF, SGP, we have organized a
public meeting in each of the towns and villages covered by the project on
20-21 April 2004. In these meetings experts explained subjects such as, how to
grapple with mosquitoes effectively, methods of sustainable agriculture and
tourism. These meeting which were shaped with lively discussions, drew
interest of protocol and press and are so seemingly contributing to create an
environment for discussions and necessary echo for our area. It can be a great
contribution to the development of the area if the area under the project is
handled as one unite and thus ideas to promote the area are accepted. All
towns and villages are going to stand out with the potential they already have
and are going to be a part of the great picture.
-
Our investigations which we started
to solve the mosquito problem, which has been an important problem our area
faces for years, with modern methods has come to an end and a pilot
application has started in Akyaka. For this reason with the participation of
Ula Main Health Clinic, Akyaka Health Clinic, the municipality and one
volunteer of our society insecticide was spayed on covered areas and pools.
This application will be repeated periodically and this problem will be
overcome successfully with the support of the people who live in Akyaka. In
Addition, we have revised and simplified a brochure previously prepared by the
Ministry of Environment and Special Environment Protection Council and we have
had it printed. We aim to distribute it to every household with the help of
municipality and village administrators. The brochure can be obtained through
our society or from the internet site
www.akyaka.org .
-
On 30 April 2004, together with two
experts we made a study to determine the flora at the slopes where the ancient
rock tombs of the town of Gökova are. At the same time the ancient rock tombs
and other natural beauties important for alternative tourism were assessed.
After the collecting of plant samples, which took about three hours, they were
named and listed. All results will come up in the Gökova Guide Book which
will be prepared and printed by our society. Thus a visitor who is walking the
slopes will be able to see the archaeological wealth and have the chance to
gain information about the flora and fauna of the region.
-
A
study of a Bird Atlas of the Gökova plain has started. The aim is to make a
list of the birds which reproduce here and to watch them. Thus a birdwatcher
can know which birds, except migrating ones, can be seen in Gökova. Already,
without having finished the study, we can say that the potential of bird
species accommodated in our region is high.
Other
society activities:
-
The
exhibition brochure which we brought out for the first time last year, we also
prepared this year in both Turkish and for our foreign visitors in English.
With the brochure, which contains a brief biography and a photo of the artist,
it is possible to follow all exhibition dates and their contents.
-
We
have established a nice cooperation with our new municipality administration.
We think that some problems we face in our town can be easily solved with
small initiatives taken by us who use this town. We are ready to cooperate
within our societys possibilities to solve never ending problems of Akyaka,
such as mosquito, stray animals, separation of litter and we partially have
started to do it.
-
Our
bird group called Sky-Bird-Net has continued its project to watch the
wetland. Last winter, we realized the Mid-Winter Water birds Count in the
whole of Turkey, in Bodrum Tuzla and Güllük delta, Fethiye wetlands, Lake
Köycegiz and of course in Gökova. Our results were conveyed to the Nature
Society in Ankara and were recorded in their data bank. We realized that the
variety and number of migrating bird species have increased greatly. To see
that our educational training of recent years have not been in vain was very
satisfying. For this we have to give our special thanks to the gendarme
institution. They have made it possible to apply the hunting prohibition by
regular area patrols.
-
Together with the Bodrum Volunteer we have participated in the ÇED meeting
about the golf course, which will damage the nature in Bodrum Tuzla and there
we mentioned the damages that will happen to the nature. We tried to stop a
180.000m2 -construction on a wetland which has a, now very rarely found
magnificent flamingo population and which fulfils the Ramsar criteria.
.
Yours faithfully,
Heike Thol-Schmitz
Council Chairperson
Announcement
for our members and friends:
We thank you very much for the support
you gave to our studies as member of the Society of the Friends of Gökova-Akyaka.
The continuation of your support is
very important for us. The seemingly trifle effort you do by paying the
membership fees or donate to our association
in order to help to our work to
protect the natural, urban and cultural values which diminish more every day,
may look limited to you but they are very important for us.
For this reason, in order to take part
in the ordinary general assemblymembers
have to pay their
fee for the year 2004 until 31 June 2004.
With the hope that your support of the
Society of Friends of Gökova-Akyaka will continue,
Mustafa Taşkesiği
Accountant
The fee for regular members
in 2004 is: 12.000.000 TL
The payment can be made at the society
office, at Mustafa Taşkesiği s office,
Or to:
Oyakbank, Muğla, Account No. 824 360-MT-1
Or you choose to pay automatically by
credit card on
our website
where credit card number, holders
name and valid date are conveyed to our society.
Non-members can donate the same way.
|
