Lakes Are Drying Up In Turkey

Making a statement within the scope of 2 February World Wetlands Day, WWF-Turkey General Manager Aslı Pasinli said that Turkey's wetlands, 3 times the size of Van Lake, have lost their ecological function.

WWF Turkey General Manager Aslı Pasinli pointed out that half of the wetlands in Turkey have lost their healthy structures in terms of water quantity and quality since the 1960's, and said, "Our wetlands, the size of three Van Lakes, have lost their ecological function."

The main source of the problem was the drying of wetlands. In addition, the effects of climate change are seen in the Mediterranean Basin, where our country is located, in the form of an increase in average temperatures, a decrease in precipitation and drought. Pollution from agriculture, industry and urban use affects the quality and quantity of water. Wetlands are getting more and more polluted with domestic, industrial and agricultural wastes. Polluted water resources not only directly affect biodiversity, but also directly affect many people whose livelihoods depend on water. Büyük Menderes River, Eğirdir Lake, Bafa Lake, Salt Lake, Gediz Delta, Uluabat Lake, Beyşehir Lake, Eber Lake, Burdur Lake and Göksu Delta are just a few of the wetlands affected by water loss and pollution.

Pasinli pointed out that many wetlands have lost their function in Turkey:

"Especially in the Lakes Region and Central Anatolia, many of our wetlands have unfortunately lost their ecological functions to a large extent and are under the threat of drying out. While Eber Lake has shrunk by % 33 since 1985, almost all of Akşehir Lake has dried up. Adding other examples to these. Although it is one of the driest regions of our country, in the Konya Basin, which is one of the richest regions of our country in terms of wetlands, with a total of 350,000 hectares, the wetland drying works started in the 1950's to combat malaria, tended to obtain agricultural land in the following years, and a total of 113,000 hectares in the basin. The wetland has dried up," he said.

In Turkey, % 73 of the fresh water is used in agriculture, it is necessary to take action to restore the ecological balance.