Sultan Marsh (755)
Turkey, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1c, A1d, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Sultan Sazlığı
Central coordinates: Latitude: 38.3667, Longitude: 35.2667
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1070 to 1260
Area of KBA (km2): 453.82271
Protected area coverage (%): 38.53
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA lies in the Develi closed basin, surrounded by mountains. The wetland comprises a series of salt, brackish and freshwater lakes, and extensive marshes, and reaches 20,000 ha at its maximum extent. The salt-lakes are surrounded by Salicornia steppe; the southern marshes comprise vast reedbeds (Phragmites) interspersed with expanses of Typha, Juncus and Carex. Human activities include sheep- and cattle-grazing, and reed-cutting (`Other' land-use).
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: The site holds significant numbers of a range of breeding, wintering and passage waterbirds. Large numbers of Phoenicopterus ruber, Grus grus and Recurvirostra avosetta use the wetland in autumn. Chettusia leucura apparently bred in 1996.
Delineation rationale: Area changed from 39,000 ha to 45,350 ha (Kilic & Eken, 2004). Area changed from 45,350 ha to 44,674 ha (Eken et al. 2006).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (10%) | nature conservation and research (50%) | not utilised (20%) | tourism/recreation (20%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 40 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 55 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Agricultural intensification and associated water management in the basin poses a serious threat˜reduced water inputs and a lack of rainfall led to the wetland drying up in 1990 and 1991. The wetland can only be preserved if further expansion of the irrigation scheme is cancelled. Industrial, agricultural and untreated urban waste enters through drainage channels. Tourists cause disturbance, and uncontrolled reed-cutting takes place (`Other' threat). Illegal hunting of falcons occurs on the surrounding steppe. The management plan covers developing ecotourism at the site.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (unknown use) | Only in the past and unlikely to return |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of ground water (agricultural use) | Ongoing |