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Over two-thirds of the world’s wintering population of Endangered White-headed Duck occur at Burder Lake, Turkey.
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Preachers and teachers help conserve Turkish wetland

03-08-2009

Lake Burdur is internationally important for wintering and passage waterbirds, and has been threatened in recent years by pollution, urban development and unsustainable agricultural practices. In response, Doğa Derneği - the BirdLife Partner Designate for Turkey - recently drafted a sermon to educate the local community of Burdur on the importance of conserving their lake.

“…Water is one of the countless blessings and a source of life for us, as well as for all of Earth’s creatures”, said Burdur’s Provincial Mufti. “A world without it would be very terrifying and we should be grateful for being blessed with water. We should especially learn appropriate irrigation techniques and farming practices in line with our soil characteristics and implement them wisely”.

It is estimated that through the sermon Doğa Derneği reached approximately 52,000 people across over 1,000 mosques in all the villages, towns, districts and provincial centre of Burdur. The first of its kind in Burdur, the sermon highlighted the responsibility of humans in protecting the environment and wildlife, and was a collaborative effort between Doğa Derneği, Burdur’s Provincial Mufti and the Burdur Centre Ulu Mosque Imam Nuri Çınar.

Lake Burdur is an Important Bird Area (IBA) and one of twelve Ramsar wetlands of international importance in Turkey. It is very important for wintering waterbirds, and is the single most important wintering site for Endangered White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala - over two-thirds of the world’s wintering population occur at Burder Lake.

“we should be grateful for being blessed with water” —Burdur’s Provincial Mufti

The Lake is facing degradation pressure due to the unrestricted use of water resources which feeds the basin which is leading to its rapid retreat and a marked decrease in crop productivity and soil quality. Poor management of water resources continue to threaten the ecosystem’s balance, its ecological integrity and the species which depend on it.

To raise awareness about the ecological importance and natural assets of Lake Burdur, and to achieve conditions for sustainable management of the site in the long-term, Doğa Derneği implemented the ‘Conserving Lake Burdur Project’ with support from the Wings Over Wetlands (WOW) Project. The recent sermon has been the latest activity to educate local people about the importance of the lake, its unique ecology, and how it should be managed.

Through the WOW project, Doğa Derneği and its partners have been actively raising awareness about the lake’s importance across Burdur and have trained 1524 farmers from 44 villages on the use of drip irrigation systems. “Doğa Derneği is not only fighting to reverse the retreat of the lake, but is also aiming to make Turkey an example in the wise-use of water”, said Lale Aktay - Project Manager at Doğa Derneği.

Doga Dernegi have also been working with the Ministry of Education, local volunteers, bird watchers and teachers, to create a special education programme tailored for children ages 6 through 14 years. Initially rolled-out in four elementary schools, the education programme includes a multitude of activities to foster an appreciation of wetland habitats and wetland-dependent species. This includes an art exhibition featuring over 200 pictures, a poster and bird checklist for use the school’s garden and a school-wide water conservation campaign.

Camillo Ponziani

Lake Burdur is internationally important for wintering and passage waterbirds.
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“We not only have to conserve Lake Burdur, but also tell everyone who does not know about it of its importance and its value” —Hanife Göktaş, İlyas Primary School in Burdur

Hanife Göktaş from İlyas Primary School in Burdur said: "if the lake vanishes, then our life is gone. We not only have to conserve Lake Burdur, but also tell everyone who does not know about it of its importance and its value”.

Their collaborative approach to conservation is crucial in helping the demonstration project deliver significant benefits, both for the community and the environment, in a place where critical habitat and bio-diversity are threatened. “Human activity can either conserve or devastate our lake”, added Lale Aktay.

Waterbirds need an unbroken chain of wetlands to complete their annual life-cycles. Wetlands which also benefit people by providing clean water and opportunities for fishing, agriculture, recreation and tourism. However, despite their importance, wetlands are amongst the world’s most threatened ecosystems.

BirdLife believes migratory waterbirds can only be effectively conserved through international cooperation across the entire flyway. In response to these worrying declines, BirdLife is a key partner in the WOW project, and has launched the Born to Travel Campaign to protect migratory waterbirds, soaring birds and songbirds along the African-Eurasian flyway. Born to Travel is a perfect example of how effectively our unique BirdLife Network meshes together as a united force to take action for conservation.

This news is brought to you by Born to Travel - BirdLife's Flyways Campaign. To read more about the BirdLife Partnership’s global work to save migratory birds, click here.