Bio-diversity

Karacadag is a vast area in Southeast Anatolia in Turkey at the upper fringes of the Fertile Crescent, homeland to the first farmers in the Middle East.It is known that Karacadag is an important gene center hosting the wild species, such as those of wheat, barley. The latest studies show that the wild ancestors of einkorn whea, as one of the first domesticated products in 9000 BC are found in Turkey`s southeastern region in the near vicinities of Karacadag. The site has been under the threat of overgrazing, land reclamation for agriculture, excessive tearing out of astragalus for many years. The project aims to protect the site by preparing a database about the biodiversity of the Site, defining the hotspots for gene resources and endemics, identifying the threats and demonstrating activities to minimize the threats and to assure the sustainability of the gene resources.

Turkey