Bio-diversity

The Balik Lake, although an IBA and a local source of drinking water, is under threat of domestic pollution, pollution resulting from animal husbandry, illegal hunting and the use of lake waters for wool-washing. The publication draws attention to these issues, and the actions that needs to be avoided by the local people, in order to conserve the breeding habitat of Melanitta fusca, the Velvet Scoter (breeding population is justification for the Lake being a IBA), and to protect the area from pollution as it is an important drinking water supply for the region. The project aims to publish and disseminate a 20 page booklet about Balik Lake, Dogubeyazit, Agri, which is an Important Bird Area (IBA) and a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), providing information about the Lake in general, about the fauna of the Lake and the characteristics of its waters. The publication aims to create a general awareness for the importance of the lake both in terms of biodiversity and in terms of the goods and services the wetland provides for its surroundings. 4000 copies of the publication has been widely disseminated, both in the area and to national NGOs and other partners in the SGP network. Main Activities 1- Preparation of the text of the publication 2- gathering of the photographs 3- editing and design 4- publishing and dissemination of the booklet.

Turkey