In biodiversity, Turkey is extraordinarily rich. The country benefits from a unique geographical location. It is the bridge between three continents (Europe, Asia, Middle East). It is surrounded by four seas (Black Sea, Marmara, Aegean, Eastern Mediterranean). It is located at the crossroad of three biodiversity hotspots (Caucasus, Irano-Anatolian, Mediterranean), which correspond to three major bio-geographical regions (Euro-Siberian, Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian) and phyto-geographical regions (Black Sea, Mediterranean, Anatolian). Finally, it is at the intersection of two gene centres (Mediterranean and Near Eastern) and two of teh world's major bird migration routes.
This unique location has premised an extraordinary ecosystem and habitat diversity, which has produced considerable species diversity. In addition, fauna biological diversity is quite high compared with the biological diversity of other countries in the temperate zone. In terms of natural habitats, 27% of the Turkish territory is composed of forests, 1.6% of rivers and lakes, and 2/3 of the surface area is composed of steppes, most of which contained in the Central Anatolian region (19% of territory).
Protected areas only represent 6% of the total surface area of the country, none of which is allocated to steppes. Originally covering two thirds of Turkey, Anatolian steppes are the richest terrestrial ecosystems of the country in terms of plant species; yet they are largely ignored in favour of forests, both in the protected area network and as a target by conservation organisations. Without recognition of their value, in steppes the general trend is to overgraze and to convert to arable land or planted forests. As a result, steppes are one of the most damaged habitats in Turkey.
This project seeks to address such environmental challenges, to protect Turkey’s immense biodiversity and habitats, and to harmonise Turkey’s nature protection policy with the EU environmental acquis. Indeed, the aim of the Natura 2000 network, which is the centrepiece of EU nature and biodiversity policy, is to assure the long-term survival of Europe’s most valuable and threatened species and habitats.
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