Ecological Corridors will be mapped

The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change will implement the project, which includes field work to draw the boundaries of ecological corridors that will connect the protected areas in the Aegean, Mediterranean and Eastern Anatolia.

Within the scope of the "Research of Areas Suitable for Ecological Corridors Between the Protected Areas of the Aegean, Mediterranean and Eastern Anatolia Regions", it is aimed to establish sustainable healthy connections between sub-ecosystems by determining the ecological corridors that connect the protected areas in order to protect ecological continuity, ecosystem integrity and biological diversity in the light of scientific criteria. .

The project to be carried out by the General Directorate of Natural Resources, İzmir, Manisa, Denizli, Afyonkarahisar, Muğla, Antalya, Burdur, Isparta, Karaman, Mersin, Adana, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, Elazığ, Malatya, Tunceli, Erzincan, Erzurum, Muş, Bitlis, Bingöl. It will cover Van, Ağrı, Adıyaman and Hakkari.

Within the scope of the study, the connection of areas with protection status such as nature assets, natural protected areas, special environmental protection zones, national parks, nature parks, nature protection areas, wildlife development areas, wetlands, and natural monuments with corridors will be made.

With the project, it is aimed to ensure the continuity of gene, species and ecosystem diversity in protected areas.

While the protected areas in the Aegean, Mediterranean and Eastern Anatolian regions will be combined with ecological corridors, the routes used by mammals for feeding, breeding and wintering will be determined and endangered species will be monitored and recorded.

In these areas, measures will be proposed to the relevant authorities for both the protection of the area and the protection and monitoring of the animals using the area.

Field studies will be carried out to determine the boundaries of ecological corridors to be determined depending on the movements of large mammals.

Mammal species such as caracal, brown bear, striped hyena, which are under protection at international and national level and which are in key positions for the ecosystem and food chain, will be selected.

Photo traps will be installed in suitable places of the land to document animal detection and movements. Habitats where basic vital activities such as shelter and nesting of mammal species to be followed in the area take place will be displayed and shown on maps.

Within the scope of the project, research will be conducted taking into account the interaction of protected areas with their immediate environment, habitat and ecosystem integrity. Key areas will be created for ecological corridors and various species groups. Corridor areas will be analyzed according to the needs of the flora and fauna, especially the critical species to be selected.

Migratory species are decisive in the creation of corridors

Migratory statuses, habitats, distribution capacity and life strategy of migratory species will be taken as a basis in connecting the corridors.

Sensitive habitats will be marked during the assessment process. The relations, distributions and habitat quality of selected critical species with the habitat will be revealed.

In the ecological corridors laid out to unite the protected areas, the rationale for each ecological corridor will be scientifically explained.

Corridors will be mapped

Species to be taken as a basis for the selection of ecological corridors will be determined. Habitat use of these species will be revealed by appropriate analysis.

Bio-ecological, geological, geomorphological, hydrogeological and landscape evaluations will be made in integrity, and ecological corridors will be proposed with their justifications.

In line with ecological analysis, maps will be produced regarding the corridors that will connect the habitats of mammals by using geographic information systems, and models will be created taking into account the geological and hydrogeological structure of the areas within these maps and their protected area status.

A regional code number will be given to the ecological corridors, videos and photographs will be taken to promote these areas, and the areas will be introduced to the public.

The project, which will be contributed by academicians who are experts in their fields, is planned to be completed in 6 months.