Page 288 - 7. State Of Environment Report Of Türkiye

Image 9 Caspian Gull (Larus Cachinnans Marmara Islands are important in terms of plants,
Michahellis) birds, mammals, reptiles and butterflies. The area is
important for Verbascum Aschersonii and Verbas-
cum Simavicum mullein species which are endange-
red and endemic to Türkiye.

Among the seabirds breeding on the islands are the
Eleonorae’s Falcon (Falco Eleonorae), Crested Cor-
morant (Phalacrocorax Aristotelis Desmarestii) and
Caspian Gull (Larus Cachinnans Michahellis).

F.3.2. Wetlands

There are 14 Ramsar Sites (184.487 ha), 59 Wetlands of National Importance (869.967 ha) and
47 Wetlands of Local Importance (107.021 ha) in Türkiye. According to the Ramsar Convention,
which has international validity in this field, wetlands are defined as “all waters, natural or arti-
ficial, permanent or temporary, stagnant or flowing, fresh, brackish or salty, and marshes, reeds,
wet meadows and peatlands, including areas of sea water not exceeding six metres in depth at
low tide”.

Wetlands, which are of great importance in ensuring ecological balance and protecting biologi-
cal diversity, have great contributions to the economy of the region and the country. Wetlands,
which are one of the most biologically productive ecosystems after rainforests, have great im-
portance due to their ability to store water, shelter water products such as fish and reeds, pre-
vent floods and floods, regulate the water regime in the basin, act as a filter by retaining nutrient
salts such as nitrogen phosphorus and contribute to agricultural production.
Table 92 RAMSAR Sites of Türkiye (MoAF, 2024)

SURFACE REGISTRATION REGISTRATION
WETLAND NAME PROVINCE
AREA (ha) STATUS DATE
1 Akyatan Lake 14,700 Adana Ramsar 15.04.1998
2 Burdur Lake 24,800 Burdur Ramsar 28.05.1994

3 Gediz Delta 14,900 İzmir Ramsar 15.04.1998
4 Göksu Delta 15,000 Mersin Ramsar 28.05.1994
5 Kızılırmak Delta 21,700 Samsun Ramsar 15.04.1998

6 Kızören Sinkhole 127 Konya Ramsar 02.05.2006
7 Kuyucuk Lake 416 Kars Ramsar 28.08.2009
8 Manyas (Kuş) Lake 20,400 Balıkesir Ramsar 28.05.1994

9 Meke Maar 202 Konya Ramsar 21.07.2005
10 Nemrut Lake 4,589 Bitlis Ramsar 17.04.2013

11 Seyfe Lake 10,700 Kırşehir Ramsar 28.05.1994
12 Sultan Reedy 17,200 Kayseri Ramsar 28.05.1994

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