Page 264 - 7. State Of Environment Report Of Türkiye

tats for mammals such as Brown bear (Ursus arctos), Red fox (Vulpes vulpes), Wolf, Jackal (Canis
aureus), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), Hyena (Hyena hyena), Deer (Cervus elaphus), Chamois (Ru-
picapra rupicapra), Wild goat (Capra aegagrus), Wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa), European badger
(Meles meles), European pine marten (Martes martes), Hedgehog (Erinaceus europea), Rabbit
(Lepus capensis), Least weasel (Mustela nivalis), Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris); reptiles such as
Snake, Chameleon (Chameleo chameleon), Lizard (Lacerta agilis, L. armeniaca, L. parvula, L. der-
jugini, L. princeps, L. trilineata, L. viridis, Anguis fragilis), Spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca)
species; and birds such as Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), Caspian snowcock (Tet-
raogallus caspius), Caucasian grouse (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Woodpecker (Dendrocopus sp.),
Accipitriformes (eagle species-Aquila sp., Pandion sp., goshawk species-Accipiter sp., Hen harrier
species-Circus sp., hawk species-Buteo sp., Falcon species (Falco sp., Pernis sp. v.s.), strigiformes
(Tawny owl -Strix aluco, Long-eared owl -Asio otus, Boreal owl -Aegolius funereus etc.) and
many passeriformes species. Among these species, the Chamois (Rupicapra Rupicapra), Wild Cat
(Felis Silvestris), Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius Monachus), Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila Heliaca),
Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila Clanga) and Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila Pomarina) are among
the forest fauna species protected under international conventions.

F.1.6. Mountain Biodiversity

Mountain ecosystems provide habitat for both different forest flora and many animal species
depending on factors such as variability in the topographical structure of Türkiye and distance
to the sea. In terms of ecosystem diversity, mountains are divided into sub-ecosystems such
as alpine meadows, sub-alpine meadows, moving slopes, thorny pillow formation steppes and
the floristic composition of each ecosystem is different from each other. Information on species
richness in mountain steppes is given under the heading “E.1.4. Agricultural Area and Steppe
Biodiversity”. The fauna species given above under forest biodiversity are also valid for many
mountain ecosystems.

The Mediterranean region contains more than 25 important mountains characterised by high
mountain ecosystems. This is followed by the Iran-Turanian biogeographic region with 19
mountains. There are 11 important mountain ecosystems in the Europe-Siberia biogeographic
region. Mountains contain important habitats for birds, plants, economically important species
and wildlife. The total number of species and endemics in most of these mountain ecosystems
is unknown. Among the known ones, Bolkars, Amanos (Nur) Mountains, Munzur Mountains, Sul-
tan Mountains and Tecer Mountains are the mountain ecosystems with the highest number of
endemic plant species.

Since mountain ecosystems include different ecosystems such as wetland, steppe, mea-
dow-pasture and forest, institutional responsibility in these ecosystems is not single-centred.
For example, the management of pastures within forests is carried out by the General Directo-
rate of Forestry, while other pastures are managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Therefore, many institutions that have direct or indirect authority over biodiversity also have
authority over mountain ecosystems.

F.1.7. Inland Water Biodiversity

Türkiye has important inland water ecosystems in terms of biodiversity, with rivers and lakes
covering an area of approximately 10,000 km (1.6% of Türkiye’s area). Türkiye has 7 drainage
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