Turkish Fauna & Flora

Anatolia is one of the foremost world sources of plants which have been cultivated for food, and the wild ancestors of many plants which now provide staples for mankind still grow here.

Wild forms develop defence mechanisms against predators, extremes of temperature, flooding, frost and drought. Moreover, they are resistant to the diseases so prevalent among cultivated plants. In addition, they preserve the taste, fragrance, colour, hardness and other original characteristics which tend to be lost in the course of cultivation. Today thanks to strides made in biotechnology it is possible to transmit useful qualities of this kind to their cultivars. Moreover, wild forms are a fundamental reference source for the development of new cultivars. To put it metaphorically, wild forms of cultivated species are like the national archive of a country, or the core memory of a computer.

According to the principal international organisations active in wildlife research and conservation-the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (I-UCN), the International Plant Genetic Resource Institute (IPGRI) and the World Wildlife Found, there are four gene centers in the world for cultivated plants used in agriculture. Two of these are in the American continent and two in Asia. In America, Mexico is the gene centre for maize and tomatoes, and Peru for potatoes and beans, while in Asia China is the gene centre for rice and millet, and the region of southwest Asia covering most of Turkey and parts of Iran, Iraq. Syria and Azerbaijan for wheat and barley. The most important of these strategic agricultural plants is undoubtedly wheat, of which over thirty wild species still grow in Turkey. The transmission of a disease-resistant gene from a wild wheat form in Turkey to the American cultivar has meant a saving of 50 million dollars a year for the US economy alone.

Turkey is also the home of many other cultivated plants, such as chickpeas, lentils, apricots, almonds, figs, hazelnuts, cherries and sour cherries. Their origin is recorded in the Latin names for some of these species, such as Ficus caria, meaning "fig of Caria". Caria was an archaic civilisation of Anatolia in the southern Aegean region. Similarly the cherr's scientife name Cerasus comes from the ancient name of its place of origin, today the province of Giresun on Turkey's Black Sea coast.
Off the large number of ornamental flowers cultivated from Turkish wild forms, we can cite the tulip. crocus, snowdrop, lily and fritillery.

As the flora, Turkey is divided into 3 main division and 5 subdivisions, these are;
I) Euro-Siberian Flora Area
a) Kolsik Provence: includes central and western parts of the Black Sea Region and some of Marmara Region.
b) Oksin Provence: includes eastern part of the Black Sea Region.
II) Mediterranean Flora Area
a) Western Anatolia: includes Thrace, southern part of Marmara Region and Aegean Region.
b) Taurus Mountains
c) Amanos Mountains
III) Irano-Tranian Flora Area includes the rest of the country

The diversity of fauna in Turkey is even greater than that of wild plants. While the number of species throughout Europe as a whole is around 60,000, in Turkey they number over 80,000. If subspecies are also counted, then this number rises to over a hundred thousand.

As in the case of plants, Anatolia is the original homeland of several species. For instance, the fallow deer now common in Europe was introduced from Turkey in the 17th century. This species comes from the foothills of the Taurus Mountains between Antalya and Adana. Another example is the pheasant which comes from Samsun on Turkey's Black Sea coast. The scientific name of this beautiful bird is Phasianus colchicus, "Phasianus" being the ancient name for the Kizilirmak river, and "colchicus" deriving from Colhia, an ancient kingdom which stretched along the Black Sea coast to the Caucasus. The domestic sheep is a descendant of the wild sheep, Ovis musimon anatolica, which as the scientific name indicates was a native of Anatolia. Few people are aware that the Anatolia leopard is one of the largest of these graceful cats, and that it was the species used in gladiator fights by the Romans constructed as traps for these creatures can still be seen scattered in the Taurus Mountains, and are known locally as tiger-traps. Indeed, the tiger is another creature whose original homeland was Anatolia, a little known fact reflected in the name tiger itself , which comes from the Latin name Felis Tigris, or Tigris cat after the Tigris river. The lions which survive only in Hittite statues today were once another member of the Anatolian fauna.

Birds have taken advantage of Turkey's strategic position as a bridge connecting Europe to Asia and Africa for thousands of years. Two of the four main migration routes in the biogeographic region known as the year, in spring and autumn. In spring migratory birds fly northwards from Africa to Asia and Europe, and in autumn they leave their breeding grounds to fly south to Africa again. One of these migration routes leads south from Hopa in northeast Turkey along the Çoruh river valley into Eastern Anatolia, passing through Kahramanmaras and Antakya in Southeast Turkey. Most of the birds which take this route through the Çoruh River valley are birds of prey, and at around 250,000 they from the largest migratory group of birds of prey in the world. However, the most spectacular migration in the world is the flight of storks down the Bosphorus in Istanbul in spring and autumn. Over a quarter million storks fly in clouds over the city in the course of a few weeks. Some species of birds of prey also migrate along the Bosphorus, a waterway which is not only migratory route for birds but also for fish making their way between the Black Sea and the Marmara. It is this phenomenon which results in unusually high catches, delighting fishermen and their customers alike. 
Despite the fact that Turkey is an ancient land, crossed, exploited and sought over by a succession of peoples for millenia, there are still many areas which have remained virtually untouched, enabling many rare species of wildlife which have become endangered or extinct elsewhere to maintain viable colonies here. Turkey's Aegean and Mediterranean shores provide a refuge for monk seals and loggerhead turtles, while is wetlands house colonies of numerous endangered species, such as the Dalmation pelican, pygmy cormorant and the slender billed curlew, as well as flamingoes, wild ducks and geese.

Under the auspices of the Ministry of the Environment a programme is underway to project the last surviving colonies of monk seal along Turkey's Mediterranean and Aegean coasts, and in addition an international project is being conducted within the framework of the Bern and Barcelona conventions. Apart from a small colony of monk seals on the shores of the Western Sahara on the Atlantic Ocean, the only remaining colonies of this species are the eastern Mediterranean, the species having been wiped out in the western areas. The fact that the species has survived along Turkey's shores is due to the preservation of the natural environment in many areas and low pollution levels. Further evidence that environmental conservation along Turkey's coast is succeeding is the continued existence of pine forest and long unspoilt beaches despite extensive construction in recent years. Seals are seen to a lesser extent in the Marmara and Black Sea, but they are most common around Foça, near Izmir, on the Aegean coast, a town whose name derives from the ancient Phoenician for seal. A local Seal Committee has beer set up in the town, followed by another at Yalikavak near Bodrum further to the south. The total number of monk seals in the world is there hundred, fifty of which live in Turkish water.

Other endangered species include turtles which lay their eggs in the long sandy beaches of the Mediterranean. Two species breed in Turkey, where efforts to protect them have been extremely successful. A tourism development project at Köycegiz has been scrapped to preserve the breeding grounds of Caretta Caretta, and the lake and marshes of Köycegiz declared an Specially Protected Area. These measures were received with a standing ovation by the Standing Committee of Bern Convention of the Council of Europe in 1989, and cited as an example for other countries to follow. Studies of the turtles along all Turkey's shores have been launched, and seventeen sand beaches of foremost importance as breeding grounds for turtles are kept under constant observation by the Turtle Preservation Committee. The Ministry of the Environment's Authority of Specially Protected Areas is in charge of protecting the Belek area, and the Ministry of Forestry is responsible for the Yumurtalik and Akyatan wetlands.

NATIONAL PARKS
For more information contact: Forest Ministry, Wildlife and National Parks (Orman Bakanligi Milli Parklar ve Av-Yaban Hayati Gn.Md.) Gazi Tesisleri - No: 11 Gazi-Ankara Tel: (312) 221 10 42, 212 63 00, Fax: (312) 222 51 40

Aladaglar (Ala Mountains)
Located in the Nigde region, near Kayseri; Yahyali is about 30 km. from this area. Demirkazik summit is 3,756 meters and is the highest point in the Middle Taurus mountain range. Geomorphology includes greenhouses and very rich sources of flora and fauna.

Altinbesik Cave
Situated about 12 km southeast of Aydinkent (lbradi) and 55 km north of Manavgat. Lakes and interesting rock formations within the cave area as well as travertines and streams make this area especially fascinating. The authentic village of Urunlu is only 5 km. west of the Manavgat Valley. It is a one hour walk from Urunlu Village to Altinbesik Cave. Inside the cave are a variety of natural pools. The air inside the cave is quite humid with a temperature of 16-18C. Valuable sources of geological and geomorphological samples exist here.

Altindere (Altindere Valley)
This park is situated in the:province of Trabzon. This is the best known park in the Black Sea area; known for its natural beauty and for the famous Sumela Monastery. Facilities include picnic areas, cafes and a PTT.

Baskomutan
This park was established as a monument on behalf of war veterans who lost their lives in the Independence War. The rich green park is located on the border of Afyon province. Among the attractions in the park are the Open-Air Museum and Memorial and several cafes with music and entertainment. There is also a picnic area.

Beydaglari - Olympos (Bey Mountains)
This park is west of Antalya near the antique sites of Phaselis and Olympos. Facilities include holiday villages, motels, restaurants, camping, picnicking, a museum and PTT.

Beysehir Golu (Lake Beysehir)
60 km from Beysehir, there are wonderful geomorphological structures, beautiful birds; Hittite, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman remains. Camping and picnics are possible.

Bogazkale - Alacahoyuk
About 181 km. from Ankara, in Corum Province, this park with rich flora and fauna, also has camping, picnic sites and even a restaurant. A museum housing archaeological artifacts of the ancient capital of the Hittites and the historical site of Alacahoyuk can also be found in this park.

Dilek Yarmadasi (Dilek Peninsula)
In the province of Aydin, where Mt. Samsundagi plunges into the sea is a park of river valleys, flora, fauna, beaches and cliffs. Hiking, picnicking and water sports are possible. Wild horses, bobcats foxes and tortoises live in the park.

Gelibolu Yanmadasi (History Park-Gelibolu Peninsula)
Situated near Canakkale, the whole peninsula has been dedicated to the memory of the many soldiers who lost their lives here. There are two entrances, Kilitbahir and Kabatepe that provide information on how to tour the area, and where the British, French, Australian, New Zealand and Turkish war memorials can be found. There are beaches, hotels, restaurants and attractive flora and fauna.

Goreme (Cappadocia)
Situated in the province of Nevsehir, Goreme is a very interesting place because of its rock cone and fairy chimney landscape. The chapels date from the Seljuk and Byzantine periods and the underground cities and churches are located in this area. Among the attractions in the park are the open-air museums, holiday villages, campsites, restaurants, and shopping centers. Gulluk Dagi - Termessos (Mt. Gulluk) This park is near Antalya toward Korkuteli with wild scenery, flora and fauna, and camping, restaurants, picnicking and an open air museum.

Hatira Valley
Located on the Eastern Black Sea, 10 km. northwest of Artvin on the Coruh river. Also, 25 km. from here is a very beautiful valley, sloping to 90% in some places. Rare types of plants, geology, geomorphology and rich sources of the most valuable flora and fauna are found in this region.

Honaz Dagi (Mt. Honaz)
Located in the Aegean region near Denizli. This is one of the most beautiful and highest points in the Aegean region at an altitude of 2,528 m. Geology, Geomorpholog, archaeology and rare types of flora and fauna can be found here. This area is famous because early Christians settled on the northern slope; the name of this ancient site is Colossae and remains of this settlement can be seen.
llgaz Dagi (Mt. Ilgaz)
South of Kastamonu (45 km) is a park in a beautiful landscape, with attractive flora and fauna. Picnic facilities.

Kackar Mountains
Located on the Eastern Black Sea region, near Rize. There is a pine grove 16 km. from here; the highest point is 3,932 m. A very rich geology with a wide variety of valuable flora and fauna from the Mediterranean region and the Black Sea area.

Karagol-Sahara
Located near the Artvin city limits near Savsat in the northeastern area. Karagol is covered with beautiful forest area and a most rare and magnificent view can be found here. Sahara National Park can be found here with its wonderful alpine lakes and the Sahara Plateau which is 1,700-1,800 m high. Wildlife is plentiful here, including bears. Karagol includes recreational and picnic facilities.

Karatepe - Aslantas
This park is situated in the Ceyhan River Valley in Adana province. There are Hittite and Roman remains, hills, valleys, flora, as well as camping and picnicking possibilities.

Kaz Dagi (Mt. Ida)
Mt. Kaz National Park, which is situated near Edremit Bay, is one of the most beautiful national parks in Turkey. Mt. Kaz is 1,774 meters and the park features lovely springs and beautiful trees.
Throughout history, Ida was known as a holy mountain. This mountain also has mythological significance. According to mythology, the first beauty contest was held on this mountain. The Trojan king's son Paris, who was renowned for the importance he gave to beauty, was the head of the jury, so in the contest, that was held between Aphrodite, Hera and Athena, Aphrodite was chosen first. Every year to mark this occasion, a beauty contest is held in Mt. Kaz National Park.

Kizil Dag (Mt. Kizil)
A beautiful park of cedar trees situated between Isparta and Konya, west of the town of Sarkikaraagac and on the northern edge of Lake Beysehir. Camping and picnicking are possible.

Kovada Golu (Kovada Lake)
This park is near Isparta toward Konya with typical forest scenery, lake flora and fauna. Excellent for water sports, climbing, camping, fishing and picnics.

Koprulu Kanyon (Koprulu Canyon)
The Köprü River has carved a 14 km long canyon 91 km northeast of Antalya. There is the Roman Oluk Bridge, the city of Selge in the higher part of the park, an open - air museum, flora, camping, fishing and picnicking plus restaurants.

Kuscenneti (Bird Paradise)
In the province of Balikesir 18 km south of Bandirma is a bird preserve with over 200 species; it is an important stopover and rest area for many European species. There is a museum and tours to observe the birds. Bird Paradise has received an 'A' certificate from the European Union.

Munzur Vadisi (Munzur Valley)
In the province of Tunceli, this park has -streams full of trout, springs, flora and fauna.Camping, picnicking and fishing are possible.
Nemrut Dagi (Mt. Nemrut)
This famous mountain is located in Southeast Anatolia between the Adiyaman (100.km) and Kahta (65 km) regions. This park houses a memorial to King Antiochos and the Eski Kale, Yeni Kale, Karakus Tepesi and Cendere Koprusu are the ruins that make this park a most interesting visit.

Soguksu (Cold Water)
This park is situated at Kizilcahamam, in Ankara with thermal springs, and a forested plateau with small valleys. Facilities include a hotel, restaurants, camping, climbing, and picnic places.

Spil Dagi (Mt. Spil)
Situated in Manisa Province this park has interesting flora, fauna and thermal springs. Camping, climbing and picnicking are possible. Inside the park is Niobe Rock, the mythical weeping rock, a relief of Cybele, old caves and canyons, and wild Manisa tulips.

Uludag (Mt. Ulu)
The ancient Mt. Olympus of Mysia near Bursa (35 km) at a height of 1,800 - 1,900 m with forests and lakes, is good for walks, picnics and winter sports. There are hotels, chalets, restaurants, PTT, skiing, and camping.

Yedigoller
"Seven Lakes," north of Bolu, with its lakes full of fish, is surrounded by beautiful forests. There is a museum, and an exhibition of wildlife, restaurants, chalet accommodations, camping, fishing, and picnic facilities.

Yozgat Çamligi (Yozgat Pine Grove)
Situated 5 km from Yozgat one finds this park of forests, green hills and valleys, flora and fauna. Camping and picnicking are possible. After discovering all these interesting places, remember to have a glass of Turkish wine...

SPECIAL AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
By means of legislation adopted in 1990 Turkish governments have taken under protection twelve areas and have granted these the status of Special Areas of Environmental Protection. These areas have been selected not so much for their biological characteristics but in order to prevent tourism and construction from encroaching on their natural beauty. Among these Mugla-Köycegiz-Dalyan area has been brought under protection because it is the habitat where Caretta caretta, which has recently become the focus of world public attention, lay their eggs. Pamukkale is under protection because of its world famous calcareous sediment; the Ihlara Valley, due to its historical significance as one of the earliest dwelling places of Christians and because of the presence of chuches and temples containing painting and frescoes.

OTHER PROTECTION MEASURES
In addition to the areas of environmental protection cited above, there are also enclosed zones of smaller scale which are under protection. These serve to protect some animal species which are either rare in Turkey or in the world, or face the danger of extinction. These animals are preserved and bred under special care and some are released into nature when their populations reach a certain level. There are forty such areas of animal protection and they are located in all regions of Turkey. Below is a partial list of the animals which are under protection in these areas:
• Fallow Deer
• Roe Deer
• Bald Ibis
• Pheasant
• Frankolin
• Partridge, Deer
• Wild Goat
• Water Fowl, Wild
• Sheep (mouflon)

OTHER MEASURES FOR THE PROTECTION OF PLANT AND ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES
Turkey has started taking effective measures in order to protect certain endangered species among its rich diversity of flora and fauna. We can summarize these measures as follows;
1. A red data book was published in 1989 indicating the levels of endangerment faced by Turkish plants according to international IUCN classification. A similar study was conducted for species of birds.
2. Two gene banks have been established. One is located in Izmir, Menemen and is devoted especially to preserving the seeds and reproductive parts (diaspore) of cultivated plants in Turkey. Recently, they have also started collecting the seeds of non-agricultural wild plants for purposes of preservation. A second gene bank, fonuded in Ankara in 1990, has as its purpose to collect and preserve the seeds of native plants which constitute the wild ancestors of cultivated plants. This bank started operations by securing the seeds of plant species in the Gramineae and Leguminosae families found in the valley which will be left under water upon completion of the GAP (South-eastern Anatolian) project. It is probable that a large number of field crops had originally evolved in this area.
3. In accordance with the Bern Convention, to which it is a signatory, Turkey has added approximately seventy plant species which are in need of protection, both at the level of seeds and habitats, to the convention list in 1990-91, and the necessary measures are now being taken for their protection.
4. In addition to the Bern Convention, Turkey is also a signatory to the Barcelona Convention concerning the pollution of the Mediterranean and the Paris Agreement on the protection of Birds.
5. Although Turkey has not yet become a signatory to the RAMSAR Convention (it is expected that Turkey will sign this agreemnet in 1992), work is being undertaken to protect wetlands both by the state and by voluntary environmental protection organizations and with the participation of concerned scientist. As a result of such work, operations and with the participation of concerned scientist. As a result of such work, operations which had been designed to drain the wetlands, and which in fact resulted in the total drying of some areas, have stopped. The conversion of wetlands into agricultural land has also been halted. Serious measures are now being taken in order to prevent the pollution and degeneration of such areas.
6. Turkey has applied for membership, in December 1991, to CITES. The purpose of this convention was to protect endangered animal and plant species which are subject to commercial trading, and to bring under control their export and import. Turkey has imposed restrictions on the removal from their natural habitat of certain bulb plants, plants with rhizome roots, and tubers (geophlytes) which have been increasingly endangered since the 1970s. More importantly, efforts are being made to restrict their sales abroad. The decree published in 1989 and revised in 1991 allows for the supervision by the state and by scientists (mostly botanists and agricultural scientists) over the cultivation, harvesting, and exporting of these plants. The export of Galanthus elwesi, which is the most important of such plants under close control, has been reduced by stages during the last three years. While its exports had reached 40 million bulbs during the first half of the 1980s, this trade was restricted to 30 million in 1990, 20 million in 1991, and 15 million in 1992. Two projects have been initiated in 1991 and 1992, the first with the Netherlands, the second with Britain, which aim to cultivate G. elwesi and other species in fields. Restrictions have also been imposed on the export of Vipera kaznakowii, and of several species of predatory birds.

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY AND ITS PURPOSE
The Ministry of Environment was established in 1991, as a consequence of the careful attention paid to environmental problems in Turkey. Work on such problems which have increasingly occupied the agenda of the world public opinion, was initially conducted within an under-secretariat, and a directorate, and was subsequently upgraded to the level of a ministry of the cabinet. The focus ofthe work of these environmental agencies was initially pollution, although in the last few years, conservation of nature and of living things has been accorded a greater status. The new ministry still operrates via a central organization although work is under way to institute regional administrations. This will provide the ministry with more effective means of opperation and a greater geographical extension.