Gediz Delta (787)
Turkey, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Gediz Deltası
Central coordinates: Latitude: 38.5000, Longitude: 26.9167
Elevation (m): 0 to 130
Area of KBA (km2): 261.77868
Protected area coverage (%): 57.09
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An extensive coastal wetland situated 25 km north-west of Ýzmir. Shoals and islands separate four saline lagoons (totalling 3,450 ha) from the sea. The site also includes 5,000 ha of saltmarsh and 650 ha of freshwater marsh. Dry grassland and arable land occur north of the commercial saltpans. A fishing cooperative operates in the çilazmak lagoon; the IBA is a popular weekend destination from Ýzmir.
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: The IBA is important for breeding and wintering waterbirds. Sterna sandvicensis bred in 1996 (53 pairs)˜the first Turkish breeding record.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (15%) | fisheries/aquaculture (40%) | military (5%) | nature conservation and research (5%) | rangeland/pastureland (20%) | tourism/recreation (5%) | urban/industrial/transport (10%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 25 | |
| Grassland | 25 | |
| Artificial - Aquatic | 20 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 21 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 4 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The Gediz river is heavily polluted by industrial and household waste. Ýzmir is encroaching upon the area. Lorries cause disturbance to the Phoenicopterus ruber colony; repairs to the saltpans may delay breeding. Plans exist for a 2,000 ha sewage treatment plant, a new seaport, and the dumping of 7,000,000 m3 of polluted mud within the IBA boundary. Fish catches have declined, possibly due to increasing salinity in the lagoons as a result of reduced freshwater inflows.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (agricultural use) | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Excess energy | Noise pollution | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |