Lake Kuyucuk of Kars has become Turkey’s 2009 European Destination of Excellence (EDEN)

The honour of being Turkey’s EDEN has passed across the country from Edirne to Kars

Kars’ Lake Kuyucuk Wildlife Reserve, a haven for tens of thousands of birds of 207 species and rising, the first RAMSAR candidate site of eastern Turkey, and where conservationists have built the first island ever created in Turkey for wildlife, has won the first place in Turkey in the European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN) tourism competition (http://www.edenineurope.eu/) organized by the European Commission, in collaboration with Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Following KuzeyDoğa Society’s application in March 2009, Lake Kuyucuk and other finalists went through a rigorous selection process. On June 1, 2009, Lake Kuyucuk was chosen the winner, and Kars province became Turkey’s 2009 European Destination of Excellence. This award, which has no monetary value, will provide worldwide publicity and promotion of Lake Kuyucuk and Kars, highlight the region as a center of nature tourism, and help raise the tourism revenue of Kars and neighbouring provinces, especially the villages and towns around Lake Kuyucuk.

Last year the theme of the competition was “Tourism and Intangible Heritage”. The Edirne province, which borders Greece, won the competition with its famous Kırkpınar traditional olive oil wrestling festival. This year, the honour of being the European Destination of Excellence (EDEN) passed across the country from Edirne to Kars. With this, the Kars province, which borders Armenia, has become the easternmost Destination of Excellence in Europe. By choosing Kars as its 2009 EDEN, Turkey has taken a crucial step to promote a part of Turkey that is little-known, and is home to unique and fascinating nature, wildlife, history, culture, cuisine, and geography.

The application by KuzeyDoğa Society was done in collaboration with the Kars Governorship, Arpaçay District Governorship, Kars Directorate of Culture and Tourism, and Kars Directorate of Environment and Forestry, with the aim of improving and promoting sustainable nature tourism at Lake Kuyucuk and around Kars. The 2009 theme of the competition was “Tourism and Protected Areas”, for which Lake Kuyucuk Wildlife Reserve, a Key Biodiversity Area and eastern Turkey’s first Ramsar candidate, is uniquely suited. The competition aims to promote protected areas and their surroundings where an economically viable tourism product can be developed using the protected area as an asset, all the while respecting its protected environment and meeting the needs of local residents and visitors.

By awarding up to 34 destinations of excellence throughout Europe, the European Commission’s specific aims are to:

-enhance visibility of the emerging European tourist destinations of excellence, especially the lesser known,
-create awareness of Europe's tourist diversity and quality,
-promote all European countries and regions,
-help de-congestion, combat seasonality, rebalance the tourist flows towards the non- traditional destinations,
-awarding sustainable forms of tourism,
-create a platform for the exchange of good practices,
-promote networking between awarded destinations which could persuade other destinations to -adopt sustainable tourism development models.

Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism collected applications throughout Turkey and nominated Lake Kuyucuk as one of the four finalist sites after the initial screening. Lake Kuyucuk wildlife reserve competed with the finalists Yedigöller National Park and Abant Lake Nature Park (Bolu), Gideros Bay Natural Site (Cide/Kastamonu), and Uluabat Lake Wetland Area (Uluabat Lake/Bursa).

These four finalist sites were visited by the expert selection committe of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The committee came to Kars during May 12-14 2009, visited Lake Kuyucuk and other nature tourism attractions in the region with the KuzeyDoğa team, and was impressed with the full support of Kars administrators for the conservation of Lake Kuyucuk. By coincidence, the committee arrived at Lake Kuyucuk the day when Turkey’s first man-made island for wildlife conservation was cut off from the mainland. The committee was impressed with the unprecedented support of the Kars governor Mehmet Ufuk Erden for nature conservation and with KuzeyDoğa Society’s regional work on conservation, wetland restoration, ecological research, environmental education, and community-based bio-cultural tourism.

Kars province will now be presented to the European Commission as Turkey’s 2009 European Destination of Excellence. European Commission will promote the EDEN sites throughout Europe, encourage European tourists to go and visit these sites, establish a network between the winner sites of each country and present them the European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN) awards by organizing a ceremony at the European Tourism Forum.

Dr. Çağan Şekercioğlu, the president of KuzeyDoğa Society, stated the following:

“Our nature conservation and nature tourism activities that started with the Kars-Iğdır Biodiversity Project in 2003 gained steam with the establishment of KuzeyDoğa Society, the increasing support of the Kars governor Mr. Mehmet Ufuk Erden and the October 2008 visit to Kuyucuk Lake by Mr. Ertuğrul Günay, the Culture and Tourism Minister of Turkey. This award is a historical achievement for Lake Kuyucuk, for Kars, and for nature tourism in the entire region. Last year, the Lake Kuyucuk Project has received from HRH Princess Anne the Whitley Gold Award, United Kingdom’s most prestigious grassroots conservation honor. Our aims are to help conserve the region’s nature and wildlife by working with local people and raising their income through sustainable nature tourism. The honor of being a European Destination of Excellence will increase tourism and local benefits. However, increased tourism and its benefits must be regulated carefully with a sustainable tourism strategy in order to prevent the negative impacts of mass tourism around Lake Kuyucuk and the Kars region. Kuyucuk Lake can be packed with thousands of geese and we do not want to kill the goose that lays the golden egg of nature tourism. Lake Kuyucuk’s recent nomination as the first Ramsar site in eastern Turkey due to its global importance as a wetland was the most important factor in winning this award, which provides a great example of the symbiosis between nature conservation and nature tourism. Lake Kuyucuk’s Ramsar candidacy and its Ramsar boundaries were approved by the National Wetland Commission on April 2, 2009. It is extremely important that the Turkish government sends Lake Kuyucuk’s Ramsar application to the International Ramsar Secreteriat urgently, as the international recognition of Kuyucuk’s Ramsar status will lead to better conservation and will also increase the benefits of the EDEN honor for Lake Kuyucuk, Kars, and Turkey. As the president of KuzeyDoğa Society, we thank the Kars governor, Arpaçay and Akyaka district governorships, Kafkas University, Kars Directorates of Culture & Tourism and Environment & Forestry, and most importantly, the people of Kuyucuk, Duraklı and Carcıoğlu villages. This success is the culmination of years of teamwork with all stakeholders.”

What is European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN)?

EDEN is the acronym for European Destinations of Excellence, a project promoting sustainable tourism development models across the European Union (http://www.edenineurope.eu/). The project is based on national competitions that take place every year and result in the selection of a tourist “destination of excellence” for each participating country. Through the selection of destinations, EDEN effectively achieves the objective of drawing attention to the values, diversity and common features of European tourist destinations. It enhances the visibility of emerging European destinations, creates a platform for sharing good practices across Europe and promotes networking between awarded destinations.

This European quest for excellence in tourism is developed around an annual theme, chosen by the Commission together with the relevant national tourism bodies. This theme functions as a leitmotif: so far, rural tourism, intangible heritage and protected areas have been the main EDEN themes.

The key feature of the selected destinations is their commitment to social, cultural and environmental sustainability. The recipients of the award are emerging; little known European destinations located in the 27 Member States and candidate countries. The EDEN project helps to spread the sustainable practices used in the chosen destinations across the Union and to turn these places into all-year-round venues. The process thus aims to help de-congest over-visited tourist destinations.

National Geographic - Road Becomes Turkey's First Island Sanctuary for Birds

After years of lobbying, planning, and months of hard work, conservationists have built the first island ever created in Turkey for wildlife.

"It may be the first artificial island in the country," said Cagan H. Sekercioglu in an email. "We have taken conservation science to the next stage and have created critical habitat for thousands of birds. It is very rewarding to be doing something concrete after my depressing papers estimating bird extinctions.

"This is an excellent example of hands-on conservation resulting from close collaboration of local villagers, conservation scientists, decision-makers and local government."

Sekercioglu is a senior research scientist at Stanford University's Center for Conservation Biology. He has received funding from the National Geographic Society's Committee for Research anbd Exploration to study forest birds in Costa Rica, a project unrelated to the island in Turkey.

The artificial island was made from a dirt road which bisected Lake Kuyucuk in the Kars province of eastern Turkey. Home to at least half the 465 species of birds found in Turkey and a critical stopover for thousands of birds that migrate annually between eastern Europe and Africa, Lake Kuyucuk was recently named by the United Nations as a wetlands of international importance.

The manmade island in the center of the lake becomes a safe place for birds to roost and breed. It also restores the natural water regime of the lake by connecting the southern and northern sections formerly bisected by the old Kars-Akyaka road.

Local authorities expect that the new 200-yard-long island will increase nature tourism in the region.

The artificial island was finished and announced during the Eleventh Turkish Birding Conference, which was hosted by Kars Kafkas University and the KuzeyDoğa Society in Eastern Turkey ast week.

"The island was the big surprise of the conference and exhilirated Turkey's birdwatchers," according to a media statement sent by Sekercioglu.

The island was converted from the old road across the lake after local authorities, conservationists and surrounding communities agreed last year on the conservation zones and the Ramsar boundaries of Lake Kuyucuk. Ramsar is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework under UN auspices for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their associated resources.

It was agreed at that time to remove the road from the lake as soon as possible. The KuzeyDoğa Society, a bird research and conservation organization led by Sekercioglu, proposed that the dirt road be converted into an island as an easy and affordable way to provide a haven for breeding birds.

Fifty yards road were removed from both ends of the dirt and the excavated soil was added to the southern bank of the remaining 200-yard road segment to expand the width of the island.
Ninety-three trees of local species such as birch and willow, suited to the local steppe wetland ecosystem, were planted along the northern side of the island.

The soil addition on the south bank created a more gradual slope (half as steep) into the lake. This new, shallow bank will enable more species of birds to use and breed on the island, the news statement said.

"The entirety of the island is now inaccessible to people, cattle, sheep, horses, foxes, wolves, dogs and cats and therefore any birds nesting or feeding there will be free of these human and animal disturbances common elsewhere around the lake."

Original link: http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2009/05/turkey-bird-island.html

World Migratory Day at Lake Kuyucuk (9 May 2008)

We have celebrated the 2009 World Migratory Bird Day at Lake Kuyucuk. This is an Important Bird Area and Ramsar candidate site where KuzeyDoga has so far documented 204 bird species, including globally Endangered White-headed Duck (breeding), Red-breasted Goose, and Egyptian Vulture. Up to 35,000 birds can be seen on the lake.

Over 150 people and 85 students participated from Kuyucuk, Durakli and Carcioglu villages, Arpacay district Boarding School and Kars. The celebration was honored by Kars Director of Environment and Forestry Mr. Erol Bilgir. During the press conference we announced the formal recommendation, by the Turkish government, of Lake Kuyucuk as Turkey's 13. and eastern Turkey's first Ramsar site. This was followed by lunch and birdwatching at Lake Kuyucuk.

For more pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/kuzeydoga/WorldMigratoryDay2009Kuyucuk

Kuyucuk Multilingual

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Rare Turkish bird haven under threat

By Sarah Rainsford
North-eastern Turkey

The birdwatchers at Kuyucuk lake rise with the sun.

The water stretched out before them is covered with black dots that suddenly come alive as flocks of birds open their wings and soar into the early morning sky.

"I've never seen such a congregation of wildfowl in my life, it's phenomenal!" enthuses Glen, binoculars glued to his eyes - a spotter who has come to Turkey from Britain.

"The number of birds is overwhelming. It's awe-inspiring. I don't know where to look."

Kuyucuk lake, close to Turkey's border with Armenia, lies at a critical spot on the bird migration path between eastern Europe and Africa.

Almost 200 species stop here to feed, breed or rest en route, and the spotters have recorded 14 species that are globally endangered.

Ten rare white-headed duck are regular visitors to Kuyucuk and the orange-bodied ruddy shelduck, rarely seen in the wild in Europe, is in abundance here.

Grass greener

A small team of conservationists now work at the lake, documenting its rich population and battling to keep the birds' habitat intact.

For years, nearby villagers have led their cattle to graze by the water. They have chomped the tall reeds that once lined the shore to the roots, leaving little space for the birds to nest or breed in.

The conservationists have fenced off small zones to encourage re-growth.

But the wire has been cut in several places by local shepherds, convinced the grass on the forbidden side must be greener.

"People here say they are proud of the lake and support us," explains Dr Cagan Sekercioglu, who heads the lake conservation project for the KuzeyDoga Association.

"But if a shepherd's out here alone and he sees the nice green grass and reeds in our enclosure, he'll let the animals in. It's too tempting."

Trucker 'magnet'

Now a new threat to the lake is looming.

The Turkish-Armenian border lies just 30km (19 miles) from Kuyucuk, but it was closed in the 1990s when Turkey sided with Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia. Diplomatic relations were frozen.

But there are talks now about re-opening the border and re-establishing official ties.

Many locals support that and the surge in trade it is sure to bring. Ornithologists fear disaster.

A branch of the old road to Armenia already bisects the lake, but it is rarely used.

"That road would definitely be expanded if the border opens, then the whole lake area would be a magnet for truckers," Dr Sekercioglu says.

He worries the area will be developed - until hotels, shops and recreation facilities crowd the shoreline. Legally, there is nothing to stop that.

Rare wetland

"The birds come here to rest," Dr Sekercioglu says. "They can't afford to waste valuable migration energy, fleeing from visitors. If they're constantly disturbed they can't stay here."

Almost 60% of Turkey's wetlands have disappeared in the past five decades - a result of irresponsible irrigation combined with climate change. That has made the struggle to save Kuyucuk for the birds more urgent.

Every so often a huge truck rumbles by loaded with construction materials for a new dam being built nearby.

The prospect of irrigation is encouraging villagers to plan more intensive farming, using fertilisers for the first time. If that happens, those chemicals are sure to contaminate the lake.

But on its shore the protection work goes on, to the constant honk of hundreds of shelduck.

Every hour, volunteers untangle birds from huge nets strung at various points on the lakeside. They weigh and measure them, then release them into the wild with a metal leg-ring to track their progress.

"We want to see where they go, what the trends are and how global warming is affecting things," explains Alan Brooks, a volunteer from South Africa, who is dressed in shorts despite the biting cold.

"Tens of thousands of birds use this place. It's one of the few wetlands of its type left. We must preserve it. It's very important," Mr Brooks believes.

Dangerous time

The volunteers are true enthusiasts, able to swap bird stories non-stop and never tire.

But the team knows they need to infect the local villagers with some of their passion to have any chance of protecting Kuyucuk for the future.

"For now, people talk the talk, but they don't walk the walk," Dr Sekercioglu explains.

"Conservation is still seen as a luxury in Turkey," he says, though in Kuyucuk awareness is improving - encouraged by talk of eco-tourism and a potential income for the villagers.

Due to Dr. Sekercioglu's tireless campaigning, Turkey's environment ministry has been considering granting the lake area limited protection status.

However, there are signs it may be faltering - and Dr Sekercioglu is worried.

"We've lost so many important conservation sites almost overnight in Turkey - and ones with far stricter protection than what's being considered for Kuyucuk," he says.

"Anything could happen here."

Original Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7789585.stm

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Kuyucuk Island

A small road bisects lake Kuyucuk into two so that there is no water flow between two parts and it causes human disturbance at lake Kuyucuk. This road had been constructed by local authority as a result of local villager's request in order to by-pass the main road for villagers who wants to reach their farms. It only shortens the length about a 500 meters so that it is really an useless road in the middle of the lake.

As a result of KuzeyDoga staff's lobbying to local authorities and villagers, it has been decided to cancel this road and convert it to an island in order to provide a safe place for breeding birds if we consider foxes are a serious threat for birds' nests and chicks. Human disturbance at the lake will be getting less when the road is converted to an island.

Kars governorship supported us and provided trucks and shovels to digg the road and spread it into the lake to create a breeding island. We have been told that it is going to take at least 10 days to process it. First digging started on March 23th, 2009.

This is how it looks like before the diggings:

This is how it is going to be after diggings: