KBAs of Turkey
According to 2016 data, Turkey has 313 KBAs, 303 of which trigger the KBA criteria for one or more taxonomic groups at the global scale. The remaining 10 sites trigger the KBA criteria at the regional scale only. The globally significant 303 KBAs cover 20,456,884 hectares of Turkey whis is 26% of the whole country. Criterion 1 (globally threatened species) resulted in largest numbers of KBAs throughout eight taxonomic groups, followed by Criterion 2 (restricted range species).
In Turkey, out of 10,214 species of eight taxonomic groups assessed, 2312 species were identified as trigger species for one or more KBA criteria based on redlist.org and regional inventories such as Ekim et al. (2000). These include 2096 plant, 73 freshwater fish, 35 bird, 33 reptile, 12 amphibian, 29 mammal, 26 butterfly and eight dragonfly species. Among eight taxonomic groups, amphibians have the highest proportion of KBA trigger species (40%), followed by freshwater fish (36.5%), reptiles (27.5%) and plants (23.6%). Endemic species have a higher coverage of KBA criteria. Out of the 3334 endemic species in Turkey assessed, 2152 triggered one or more KBA criteria. Endemics having a wide distribution and facing lower threat did not meet the KBA criteria. Plants have the highest representation under the restricted range species criterion (91% of all trigger species) due to their beta diversity and fine-grained distribution pattern.
Nearly all of Turkey’s endemic plants occur in areas of less than 50,000 km2. 68% of these occur in areas less than 500 km2 – and large proportion of these also triggers the first (threatened species) criterion. Over 70% of Turkish endemic and restricted-range plants are also covered by the threatened species criterion. In the main, the bird species trigger the congregatory species criterion (27 species), due to their migratory life cycle, along with two reptile (marine turtles), 19 mammal (bats and dolphins) and 10 fish species that are also migratory.
Limited numbers of KBAs were selected for 72 species under the biome-restricted assemblages criterion due to the extensive ranges of bio-regionally restricted species. These species are often also restricted-range species qualifying Criterion 2. Most KBAs in Turkey were selected based on the criteria for plants – 223 sites in total, followed by reptiles and birds triggering 108 and 106 sites, respectively. For other groups, smaller numbers of sites triggered the KBA criteria: 95 KBAs were selected for mammals, 66 for butterflies, 61 for freshwater fish and 29 for amphibians and dragonflies.
The pattern of KBAs considerably differs across taxonomic groups. For instance, the number of sites selected for plants is disproportionally low compared to the high number of KBA trigger plant species (223 sites for 2096 trigger species). Other taxonomic groups, however, have wider representation within the KBA network. For instance, 29 sites triggered the KBA criteria for eight dragonfly species. Three out of 303 areas (Bolkar Mountains, Yalnızçam Mountains and the Çoruh Valley) trigger the KBA criteria for seven taxonomic groups; 11 areas (the Köyceğiz Lake, Dalaman Plain, Fethiye, Baba Mountain, Tahtalı Mountains, Aladağlar, Amanons Mountains, South Van Lake coasts and Alacabük Mountain, Yüksekova, Datça and the Bozburun Penninsula, Northern Kaçkar) for six groups; 18 areas for five; 40 areas for four; 51 areas for three; 96 areas for two; and 86 areas for one species group only. The Amanos Mountains, the Bolkar Mountains and the Munzur Mountains are the richest KBAs of Turkey and respectively 175, 147 and 109 species trigger the KBA criteria in these sites.
393 species occur only at one KBA globally. Most of these species are plants (362 species) and mainly extend along the Taurus Mountain rim in southern Turkey. Additionally, two amphibian, 19 freshwater fish, three butterfly, three mammal and four reptile species occur at one site only. Forty-two KBAs in Turkey host single-site endemic species. Nevertheless, few KBAs in Turkey are listed as global AZE sites because plants are not fully assessed against the global red-list criteria (Ricketts et al. 2005). Grasslands (including steppes and farmlands) form the most extensive habitat type within KBAs, corresponding to 50% of the surface area of the entire KBA network. Forests and Mediterranean scrublands follow grasslands, covering over 30% of the surface area of KBAs. Alpine meadows, mountain steppes, forest transition areas and wetlands are other major habitats at Turkey’s KBAs.
The nation-wide threat assessment of KBAs has clearly shown that dams and irrigation and drainage projects (i.e. water policies) form the single most important threat on Turkey’s biodiversity. Irrigation and drainage projects affect 225 KBAs and hydroelectric power plants and dams have an effect at least on 185 sites. In addition to water policies, development for tourism and urbanization in the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts has resulted, and continues to result, in the loss of biodiversity at many KBAs. Road constructions and mining are among other major threats affecting the sites. Because of their irreversible impact, dams form by far the most immediate threat on Turkey’s biodiversity (Turkey Water Assembly 2011).
As a result of Turkey’s water policies, several rivers, wetlands as well as steppic KBAs have disappeared or their ecological integrity has severely deteriorated. As a combined result of various threats on KBAs, at least one-fourth of the 303 KBAs face threats that may result in permanent loss of these sites. One hundred other sites are conservation dependent, meaning a significant part of these KBAs are under risk unless conservation action is taken urgently. The conservation status of two sites among the 303 KBAs (Hodulbaba Mountain and Nallıhan Hills) has improved over the past 10 years. The conservation status of 143 KBAs is thought to have not changed over the past 10 years, while 125 sites have partially lost their natural integrity. Only 26 KBAs do not face any threats.
The KBAs list of Turkey is currently under revision based on the new KBA Standard of IUCN. The new inventory will be launch by mid-2019. For details, see 2018 KBA Update.
References
Ekim T, Koyuncu M, Vural M, Duman H, Aytaç Z, Adıgüzel N. 2000. Türkiye Bitkileri Kırmızı Kitabı (Red data book of Turkish plants). Ankara: Türkiye Tabiatını Koruma Derneği.
Ricketts TH, Dinerstein E, Boucher T, Brooks TM, Butchart SHM, Hoffmann M, Wikramanayake E. 2005. Pinpointing and preventing imminent extinctions. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 102:18497–18501.
Turkish Water Assembly (TWA). 2011. HEPP’s, dams and the status of nature in Turkey. İstanbul: Turkish Water Assembly.