Aliken (804)
Turkey, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1d
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Aliken
Central coordinates: Latitude: 39.3167, Longitude: 31.2667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 875 to 909
Area of KBA (km2): 197.12449
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Situated 30 km south-west of Sivrihisar, the southern border is formed by the Aliken stream. The higher parts of this plateau are barren and agriculture is non-intensive (with land being utilized in alternate years). In a typical year 50% of the area supports rain-fed wheat and barley fields, 40% is fallow and 10% uncultivated rocky steppe. Human disturbance is minimal. In contrast, the c.1 km wide strip of land adjoining the Aliken stream is more intensively farmed.
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.
Delineation rationale: The IBA is southwest of Sivrihisar district and is plateau made up of agriculture areas together with steppes in higher regions. To the north and south, the area is surrounded by the arm of the Sakarya River, the Aliken and Seydi streams. To the south, there are swamp areas along the Aliken Stream. The IBA also includes large areas left to fallow as well as uncultivativable rocky lands. In other areas agriculture activity is quite dense.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (50%) | not utilised (50%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 90 | |
| Grassland | 10 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: A large drainage channel was dug in 1948 and present construction works will result in the irrigation of 3,970 ha of land in the Aliken valley. 2,630 ha of marsh along the Aliken stream (partially outside the IBA) have already been claimed for agriculture; any remaining marsh will disappear following completion of the project.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |