Turkish birdlovers fear for delta

By Alex Kirby
BBC News Online environment correspondent

Dalmatian pelicans are regular delta visitors

A wetland in Turkey that shelters many thousands of waterbirds could disappear soon, local conservationists believe.

They say pressure to build a harbour in the Gediz delta, near the western city of Izmir, may before long bear fruit.

Doga Dernegi, the Turkish partner of BirdLife International, and the Aegean Society for the Conservation of Nature say the delta should be a natural park.

They say this would help the economy of the region, save jobs in fishing and farming, and attract green tourists.

Globally valuable

The two groups say the delta is one of Turkey's key natural wetlands. It enjoys a wider significance too, as it is designated under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands as internationally important.

Development could damage fishing

Birds using the site for breeding or over-wintering include the Dalmatian pelican, red-breasted goose, black stork, lesser kestrel, collared pratincole, spur-winged plover and Caspian tern.

In winter up to 80,000 waterbirds flock to the delta, which is one of only two breeding places for the greater flamingo in Turkey. The two groups say the habitat of these birds would be completely destroyed if the harbour is built.

They have already won a court case against development plans prepared by the municipality of Izmir, but say the delta now faces renewed pressure from lobbyists trying to persuade the government to build a harbour there to handle international shipping.

Economic potential

So the conservationists are working with the environment ministry to develop a management plan of their own.

Gediz is one of two Turkish breeding sites for flamingoes

They say keeping the Gediz delta as it is will not only protect birds and other wildlife but also help to save local jobs in fishing and farming.

Salt produced in the delta is used throughout Turkey, and the conservationists say it has considerable potential for eco-tourism, which they believe would benefit Izmir.

"With the support of the provincial government of Izmir, we are developing a communications and outreach programme for this site," said Burcu Meltem Arik of Doga Dernegi.

Straightforward choice

"This programme will include creation of one of the largest nature parks in Europe as an alternative to the recently cancelled development plan for the southern Gediz delta."

Guven Eken of BirdLife International told BBC News Online: "There's no way you could build a harbour like this in the delta and still keep the birds. It would be very close to the breeding colonies.

"With proper management you could provide more jobs than the harbour would, and green tourism - or even day visitors - would mean even more."

All images courtesy of BirdLife International.