INTEGRATION OF ULUABAT LAKE RAMSAR WETLAND MANAGEMENT TO SUSURLUK RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT WITH CRITICAL PATH APPROACH

Abstract

Wetlands provide great benefits for people due to their ecological and hydrological functions. Although rapid and unsustainable changes of wetlands and river basins cause disruption of the natural biological cycle, problems such as flood, drought and pollution are often encountered as a consequence of this situation. The proper use and allocation of water in wetlands is important in terms of sustaining and protecting these areas so that local people and stakeholders can benefit from the services. River basins are an important geological unit in terms of wetland and water resources management. This research aimed to draw the roadmap for the integration of wetland management into river basin management (RBM), in Turkey. In this context, Uluabat Lake Ramsar Wetland was chosen as the Sample Area within the Susurluk River Basin. We see that the “Critical Path” approach for integration is an effective method. Successful implementation of the effective integration of wetlands to be prepared in this context into river basin management plans (RBMP) is critical for ensuring the sustainability of the wetland. In the light of this information, it is concluded that making applications will be beneficial for integration. The “Critical Path” approach in the Ramsar areas can be carried out in parallel while preparing the River Basin Management Plan, and cost-effective solutions can be produced with wetland functions in the measures program and can be maintained at the River Basin Management scale.

Keywords

• Ramsar Wetland Management
• River Basin Management
• Uluabat Lake
• Critical Path

References

1. Dickens, C., Kotze, D., Mashigo, S., MacKay, H., Graham, M., 2003: Guidelines for Integrating the Protection, Conservation and Management of Wetlands into Catchment Management Planning. WRC Report No. TT 220/03.
2. General Directorate of Water Management, 2018: Susurluk River Basin Management Plan, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agriculture And Forestry, Beştepe, Ankara.
3. General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, 2013: Wetlands, Abolished Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, Ankara, Türkiye.
4. Güney B., (2014), Place of Wetlands in Basin Management Plans, Relationship with Bird and Habitat Directives, Abolished Ministry of Forest and Water Affairs, Ankara, Turkey.
5. Gürlük S. Ve Rehber E., 2006: Evaluation of an integrated wetland management plan: case of Uluabat (Appolionia) Lake, Turkey, WETLANDS, 26, 258-264.
6. Ramsar Convention, 1999: Guidelines for integrating wetland conservation and wise use into river basin management,7th meeting of the conference of the contracting parties to the convention on wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971), San José, Costa Rica, 10-18 may 1999.
7. Ramsar Convention, 2005: River basin management: additional guidance and a framework for the analysis of case studies, 9th meeting of the conference of the parties to the convention on wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971), Kampala, Uganda, 8-15 november 2005.
8. Regulation on Protection of Wetlands, Published in the Official Gazette 4 April 2014 dated and 28962 No.

9. The Scientific And Technological, Research Council of Turkey, 2010: Preparation of basin protection action plans project Susurluk basin final report, Abolished Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, Ankara, Turkey.
10. WWF-Turkey, 2008: Ramsar Fields Evaluation Report on Turkey.