Meriç Delta (778)
Turkey, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1d
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Meriç Deltası
Central coordinates: Latitude: 40.7500, Longitude: 26.1833
Area of KBA (km2): 152.96793
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The delta is situated on the Turkish-Greek border where the Meriç river flows into the Aegean Sea (adjacent to Greek site 006). The IBA comprises a complex of freshwater lakes, extensive reedbeds (Phragmites), lagoons and 3,400 ha of former flood-plain that has largely been converted to farmland. The lakes and marshes are surrounded by irrigated rice-fields. Sheep- and cattle-grazing is widespread.
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. KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Mediterranean Hotspot (2017). Taxonomy, nomenclature and global threat category follow the 2016 IUCN Red List.
Additional biodiversity: An important site for both breeding and wintering waterbirds. Large numbers of Pelecanus onocrotalus roost on the lakes during migration.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (25%) | fisheries/aquaculture (20%) | hunting (5%) | military (25%) | water management (20%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 25 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 25 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: A large-scale DSÝ irrigation and flood-control initiative (the Lower Ýpsala Project) includes provisions to prevent pollution and further loss of wetland habitats in the area. The Meriç river is heavily polluted by industrial waste, untreated sewage and agricultural run-off. Lake water is used for irrigation during periods of drought, leading to drops in water-levels, seawater incursion and mass fish-kills. In recent years the fishing industry in the lakes and lagoons has collapsed, with pollution, over-fishing, changes in water regime, and silting-up of the river mouth quoted as the main causal factors.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |