Loss of habitat

The causes of loss of habitats take many forms, for Example:

• (a) the replacement of entire habitats by settlements, harbours, tourism and other human constructions, by cropland, grazing land, and plantations, and by mines and quarries;
• (b) the effects of dams (blocking spawning migrations, drowning habitats, and altering chemical or thermal conditions);
• (c) drainage, canalization, and flood control works;
• (d) pollution and solid waste disposal (from domestic, agricultural, industrial, and mining sources);
• (e) overuse of groundwater aquifers (for domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes);
• (f) removal of materials (such as vegetation, gravel, and stones) for timber, fuel, construction, etc.;
• (g) dredging and dumping; and
• (h) erosion and salutation biotechnology

Example Dalyan area Turkey

Centaurea tchihatchewii. This attractive Centaurea is endemic to certain areas in Central Anatolia. The genus Centaurea is richly represented by about 170 species in Turkey 110 of which are endemic. This species, characterized by peculiarly funnel-shaped marginal flowers with crenata borders, is unique in the genus.

Dalyan area is the second important sea turtle nesting site on the whole Mediterranean coasts. Furthermore it is one of the largest wetland areas in Turkey containing lagoons, a lake and natural water channels. It is situated on the west coast of the Turkish Mediterranean sea.

A tourism project was started on the beach of Iztuzu with the start of a construction of a hotel. The "Turkish Society for the Protection of Nature" acted immediately and started a campaign against this hotel construction both nationally and internationally. The hotel construction has been stopped in 1988 and Dalyan has been declared the first specially protected area in Turkey.

Between 1990-1993 "Nature Information Office" has been active for raising the awareness of local and foreign tourists in the region for the use of the beach and the sea turtles.