Izmir Metropolitan Municipality started an educational project to introduce the Gediz Delta, which is home to hundreds of bird species, and to teach children about bird watching. Nearly two hundred children benefited from the program, which started in primary and secondary schools in Çiğli.
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, which has applied for UNESCO World Natural Heritage candidacy in order to increase the international awareness of the Gediz Delta, which is among the most important wetlands in the Mediterranean Basin in terms of biodiversity, has added a new one to its efforts to promote the delta. “Gediz Delta and Bird Watching” trainings started in order to explain the importance of the Gediz Delta to the children living in the region. The education that started in schools close to the Gediz Delta will spread throughout the city.
Get to know the birds
189 students studying at schools in Sasalı and Kaklıç neighborhoods of Çiğli have benefited from the educational activities carried out in cooperation with İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Climate Change and Clean Energy Branch Directorate and Doğa Derneği. Children were given information about the Gediz Delta in their classes. Then, he was taken to the garden and had the chance to examine bird species such as sparrows, crows, silver gulls, storks, doves, magpies and pigeons, which are frequently seen around the Gediz Delta, with binoculars and a telescope. Educators also taught students how to birdwatch. The students, who had the opportunity to get to know the birds in the region, had a pleasant day. It was informed that the project, which started in Çiğli district, will also be implemented in schools in other districts.
One of the rare wetlands
The Gediz Delta, which is home to thousands of creatures, is one of the rare wetlands on earth within the metropolitan area. Although it is protected by national and international laws, the Gediz Delta, which is among the endangered natural areas, is home to about 10 percent of the world's flamingos. Delta is known as one of the two important breeding areas of flamingos in Turkey. In addition to flamingos, 298 bird species have been observed in the delta so far.
UNESCO candidate
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, which has made an official candidacy application for the Gediz Delta to be included in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Tentative List, is carrying out important projects to make Izmir a city in harmony with nature. Continuing the 35 Living Park project in order to bring the citizens of İzmir to an urban life integrated with nature and forests, the Metropolitan Municipality also creates green corridors that uninterruptedly connect the city center to the natural areas with the İzMiras routes.
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