Page 274 - 7. State Of Environment Report Of Türkiye

In protected areas that have natural, historical and cultural values on a global and national scale
but are under pressure from urbanization, tourism and agriculture, it is important to protect
biological diversity and manage the areas with an understanding of sustainability by ensuring
coordination between sectors with an integrated area management approach and a multi-di-
mensional perspective.
Conservation and monitoring of species and habitats, which are important components of bi-
odiversity in protected areas, and ensuring the continuity of ecosystem services by protecting
their existing populations are important not only for nature conservation but also for the mana-
gement of protected areas.
In Türkiye, conservation activities are carried out in areas with different statuses such as spe-
cial environmental protection areas, national parks, nature parks, nature reserves, nature mo-
numents, wildlife development areas, protection forest, seed stands, seed gardens and gene
conservation areas, agricultural enterprises, natural and archaeological sites, wetlands and bi-
osphere reserve areas.
Natural Protected Areas, Special Environmental Protection Areas, National Parks, Wildlife Deve-
lopment Areas, Wetlands, Nature Parks, Nature Reserves, Nature Conservation Areas, Protection
Forest and Natural Monuments constitute Protected Areas in Türkiye. The total area of Protected
Areas in Türkiye is 10,332,969 hectares.

Table 91 Areas of Protected Areas in Türkiye (MoEUCC, MoAF, 2024)

PROTECTED AREA AREA (ha)
Natural Protected Area 3,832,960
Special Environmental Protection Areas 2,854,906
National Park 909,158

Wildlife Development Area 1,165,448
Wetland 1,161,205
Nature Park 108,036

Nature Reserve 46,453
Natural Monument 8,356
Protection Forest 246,446
TOTAL 10,332,969

There are 19 Special Environmental Protection Areas in Türkiye and the area of these areas is
2,854,906 hectares. There are 3,962 natural protected areas in Türkiye and the area of these areas
is 3,832,960 hectares. The total area of Special Environmental Protection Areas corresponds to
3% of Türkiye and the total area of Natural Protected Areas corresponds to 2% of Türkiye.
In addition, there are 87 protected areas and 59 protected species within the framework of the
Law No. 1380 on Fisheries and related legislation.

F.3.1 Special Environmental Protection Areas

The efforts for the protection of biological diversity in the Mediterranean, aiming at internati-
onal cooperation on protected areas at regional level, were initiated within the framework of
the “Protocol on Special Protection Areas in the Mediterranean Sea”, one of the annexes of the
“Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution”, which was signed
in Barcelona on 16.2.1976 and entered into force upon publication in the Official Gazette dated
12.06.1981 and numbered 17368.

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