Environment

COMPLETED PROJECTS

Objective : To gather an inventory of existing flora and fauna in Diyarbakir area; to assess the extent of pollution in natural resources and the means of polluters and suggest appropriate counter-measures.

Scope : Assessment of the extent of pollution as well as flora and fauna surrounding the city of Diyarbakir around the Tigris river and introduce relevant measures.

Present Situation : Carried out by Dicle University, the project focusing on research of river pollution in the Tigris river from physical, chemical and biological perspectives was completed in 1992. The outcome was a report giving the inventory of flora and fauna in the area and an assessment concerning level of pollution.

Objective : To control present and future activities in the area surrounding the Ataturk Dam Lake, develop strategies for a smooth and balanced development in the area and to prepare a sub-regional development plan.

Scope : The project was carried out under four headings: Environmental impact assessment, land use survey, tourism planning and transportation.

Present Situation : The first stage of the project assessing the present situation (Ataturk dam and reservoir, sedimentation, hydrology, socio-economic structure, natural environment, underground water resources, water by-products and habitat, cultural values, land use), and examining existing legal framework was completed in 1996. Project was carried out by the implementing agency DELCAN in coordination with GAP-RDA.

Objective : The project aims to increase the environmental consciousness of primary school children (age group 10-11) by training of teachers in Adiyaman primary schools. Therefore, a wider segment of society will be reached and the continuity of environmental awareness will be sustained.

Scope : There is a need for day-to-day information and sensitivity on various issues due to the rapid socio-economic transformation and environmental problems faced in the Southeastern Anatolia region. It is significant to find solutions to problems before the problems occur, and awareness is an important key to prevent problems. Therefore, it is crucial for the young generation in the Region to grow up with environmental awareness so as to reduce the number of environmental problems today and in the future, and to create continuity in finding solutions to environmental problems.

Within this context, teachers in primary schools who will later on increase the level of environmental awareness in the students are given a training seminar on how to "share" nature with children. GAP-RDA acts in close cooperation with Ministry of Education and its Adiyaman office, as well as Greensteps Environmental Literacy Association, an NGO experienced in environmental education.

Present Situation : The training seminar was achieved in Adiyaman with Greensteps Environmental Literacy Association in June 2002. With the project, seventy primary school teachers have been distributed brochures and books on environmental education and given a day-long seminar on how to teach these information to their students.

Objective : Realization of a pilot application which provides for integration of multi-actor governance with the participation of related actors to the decision-making process and sustainable urban development aiming at ensuring economic development by means of protection of Adiyaman.

Scope : The aims of this project are as follows:

• Development of an approach and planning, which enables effective implementation with the participation of related actors, for creation of an "Eco-city Plan" so as to provide sustainable urban development in an environmentally sensitive and ecologic manner in Adiyaman and environs.
• Strengthening the technical capacity and relation-building ability of the GAP Regional Development Administration in terms of elaboration of development plans that integrate ecologic and environmental issues with economic and urban planning.

Present Situation : Carried out as a part of GAP Sustainable Development Program, the project was contracted by UNDP. The project is carried out by IULA-EMME (International Union of Local Authorities, Section for the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East). The problems brought up by the local institutions and establishments covering during the involvement process have revealed the thought on the future, anxieties and expectations; and a "project creation" process, aiming at an economic development which shall provide for harmony between the city and the surrounding natural environment, has been commenced. In March 2003 the project was completed.

Objective : The project aims to increase the environmental health awareness and environmental sensitivity of children at the primary school level (age group 10-11) by implementing environmental education programs in Mardin-Midyat and Nusaybin.

Scope : There is a need for day-to-day information and sensitivity on various issues due to the rapid socio-economic transformation and environmental problems faced in the Southeastern Anatolia Region. It is significant to find solutions to problems before the problems already occur, and awareness is an important key to prevent problems. Therefore, it is crucial for the young generation in the Region to grow up with environmental awareness so as to reduce the number of environmental problems today and in the future, and to create continuity in finding solutions to environmental problems.

Within this context, teachers in primary schools who will later on increase the level of environmental awareness in the students are given a training seminar on how to "share" nature with children. For the organization of these training seminars, GAP-RDA acts in close cooperation with Ministry of Education and its branches in the region, local administration, local institutions and NGOs who are experienced in environmental training.

Present Situation : Within the scope of the project, realized with the donation received from the Royal Embassy of the Netherlands, an environmental education training was given in Mardin-Midyat and Nusaybin, to 103 primary school teachers, in December 2002 - June 2003 in cooperation. With the project, teachers have been distributed brochures and books on environmental education and given seminars on how to teach these information to their students.

Objective : To analyze changes in climate and hydrology, on the basis of regional climate models, caused bythe projects on the development of water resources; to develop models on the present and future climatic conditions in the region; and to assess the possible effects of climate change on water resources.

Scope : The project envisages the following for the GAP Region:

• Detailed identification of present climatic conditions and prediction of changes in climate likely to occur in the future.
• Assessment of negative or positive effects that these changes may have on the hydrology, water resources and vegetation in the region; and introduction of relevant measures against negative effects.
• Search for ways of making maximum use of positive effects; informing all sectors, agriculture in the first place, on possible future climatic conditions; and contributing to the development of pertinent strategies in this regard.

Present Situation : The project was carried out by the Faculty of Agriculture, Ankara University and it was completed in February 2004.

Objective : To conduct an assessment in relation to biological diversity in the GAP region, identify priority areas in this respect and analyze the impact of the project on these areas; to make proposals for sustainable utilization of natural resources.

Scope : The region of Southeastern Anatolia has its uniqueness in terms of its natural endowments. It is the border zone through which species peculiar to steppe and semi-desert regions enter Turkey and thus it has two living environments where species not found in other parts of the country exist. These environments are:

1. The courses of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, their flooding plains and main tributaries.
2. Steppe and semi-desert areas in the southern part of the region.

These two natural environments (wetlands and semi-desert areas) room in many endemic species of plants, birds, fish and other animals. An assessment of this rich biological diversity in the region will contribute substantially to the literature on the environment and also give insight as to the possible impacts of the GAP and therefore appropriate measures to be taken so as to preserve this biological diversity.

Present Situation : The project is implemented as a part of GAP Sustainable Development Program, by Turkish Society for the Protection of Nature (DKHD) in coordination with GAP-RDA with the financial support of UNDP. The project was completed in April 2004. Its final report is avaible in Turkish and English.

Objective : To protect biological diversity in the region by creating new living environments for settled and migratory species, including those under the threat of extinction, which live particularly along the course of the Euphrates and around other rivers and dam lakes in the GAP region.

Scope : The Southeastern Anatolia Project is one of the major projects in the world that aim change The Project (GAP) is designed to bring along social change through agricultural development based on the management of water resources. The project has already transformed water thirsty tracts of land into irrigated areas and river courses to dam lakes. However, while enhancing agricultural development in the region, the project may cause the disappearance of natural living environments of many species. The present project is thus a "rehabilitation/regeneration" project targeting the minimization of negative effects on the natural system. What is desired is to regain natural systems otherwise disrupted by human activities and to introduce a model that can be adopted elsewhere in the country and in the world.

Present Situation : Euphrates soft-shelled turtle (Rafetus euphraticus) which is an endemic species for the Euphrates and Tigris is choosen the major species of this project. Surveys suggested that an area within the premises of Bozova Governorate on the river Euphrates could be used for the protection of a rare species of turtle known as "Rafetus Euphraticus". The work carried out to protect and enclose this small bay on the river has been completed. Furthermore a protocol was signed with the Village Services Unit of Bozova Governorate to sustain this protected area.

The report "Firat Yumusak Kabuklu Kaplumbagasi: Dunu, Bugunu ve Yarini" carried out by Doc. Dr. Ertan Taskavak, was reproduced by GAP RDA and delivered to related organizations. New financial support is searched in order to continue this project.