Karamık Marshes (799)
Turkey, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Karamık Sazlığı
Central coordinates: Latitude: 38.4333, Longitude: 30.8333
Elevation (m): 1002 to 1002
Area of KBA (km2): 93.40804
Protected area coverage (%): 0.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A freshwater marsh comprising extensive Phragmites and Typha beds interspersed with areas of open water. The only water-supply is run-off from the surrounding hills and a number of springs. Arable fields and pasture border the marsh in the east and west; extensive poplar plantations are found to the north and north-east. Cattle graze the marshes, and reed-cutting takes place (`Other' land-use).
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas) 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: This site is important for breeding waterbirds. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Oxyura leucocephala (thought to breed). The site was of much greater importance before water-levels were lowered.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 90 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 10 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Irrigation water is extracted from the marshes, and as a result the wetland area has decreased drastically over recent decades. The SEKA state paper factory discharges waste water into Karamýk Sazlýðý, with the risk of nutrient enrichment. Local people are complaining about the decreasing quality and height of reed as a result of this pollution. Out-of-season fishing takes place on a large scale.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (agricultural use) | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Industrial & military effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |