Page 283 - 7. State Of Environment Report Of Türkiye

In the flora of the peninsula, 15 endemic species, 4 rare species and 5 species within the scope of
CITES were identified. Again, 21 species belonging to and outside these species, but in the IUCN
category, were identified. In addition, 76 species of medicinal, 38 species of beekeeping, 30 spe-
cies of food, 39 species of commercial, 34 species of landscape and 19 species of fodder species
with economic value were identified. In Karaburun Peninsula, Bozdağ mass and areas covered
with forests are rich areas in terms of wildlife.

Karaburun, whose coastal and marine area is the breeding and habitat of the endangered and
internationally protected Mediterranean Monk Seals (Monachus Monachus), also has bird spe-
cies such as Audouin’s Gull, Short-Toed Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, and Elenorae’s Falcon, which are
also under national/international protection. Otter (Lutra Lutra) and Caracal (Caracal Caracal),
greek spur-thighed tortoise, Mediterranean Horseshoe Bat are among the endangered species
living on the peninsula.

F.3.1.18. Salda Lake Special Environmental Protection Area

Salda Lake Special Environmental Protection Area is geographically located within the borders
of Yeşilova district of Burdur province in the Mediterranean Region. The total area of the SEPA is
2
295.65 km , including 43.7 km of terrestrial area. Since the area is a wetland, it is an area with high
2
biological diversity. In this context, there are 301 aquatic and terrestrial plant species belonging
to 61 families and 20 species in terms of endemism and endangerment class among these spe-
cies.

It is an area of international and national importance that hosts critical species protected by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which meets the criteria of important
nature area and important bird area with its geological and chemical features and endemic spe-
cies. Studies conducted in the region show that Salda Lake is one of the two regions in the world
that have the surface characteristics of the planet Mars (white rocks loaded with magnesium).

F.3.1.19. Marmara Sea and Islands Special Environmental Protection Area

The Marmara Sea, Islands and the Turkish Straits System, with its natural structure, rich flora
and fauna, is one of our rare areas that should be protected with its feature of being a biological
corridor, which is of great importance for the biological diversity of the Black Sea and the Medi-
terranean.

In order to ensure the rational use of the natural values of the Marmara Sea and Islands Special
Environmental Protection Area, to ensure the continuity of natural life in these areas and to
maintain ecosystem stability, an area of 1,223,666 hectares covering the provinces of Istanbul,
Kocaeli, Yalova, Bursa, Balıkesir, Çanakkale and Tekirdağ and the Prens Islands, Kapıdağ Peninsula
and Marmara Island was declared as the Marmara Sea and Islands Special Environmental Prote-
ction Area with the Presidential Decree No. 4758 dated 04.11.2021.

282