Bio-diversity

The Great Bustard (Otis tarda) is known as a "vulnerable" species in Europe and in Turkey. It is estimated that a total of 800-3000 individuals still live in the wild in various parts of Anatolia. The Great Bustard is a protected species by virtue of international instruments such as the 1950 Paris and 1979 Bern Conventions. The species is under protection also in Turkey since 1977 through the decisions of the Central Hunting Commission and the Land Hunting Law . The Great Bustard has as its habitat the meadows and fields which are used also by the peasants for animal husbandry and agriculture. This in turn brings at least from time to time the Great Bustard and men facing each other as a competitor. The Great Bustards are considered to be under the threat of poaching, habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion, use of agricultural chemicals, collection of eggs by locals. The overall goal of the project being the protection of the Great Bustard population in Altintas, the project includes research of Great Bustard, effective protection, habitat improvement, educating various interest groups on various aspects of the issue, introducing new agricultural techniques and alternate crops.

Turkey