Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A large freshwater marsh situated at the southern edge of the Konya plain, fed by surface run-off, stream and spring water. Areas of reedbed (
Phragmites) are interspersed with patches of open water. The IBA includes Süleymanhacý, a groundwater-fed saline lake, 6 km south of the main wetland. Extensive areas of steppe and arable land surround the IBA. Reed-cutting is the main economic activity (`Other' land-use).
This is an important site for breeding waterbirds, numbers of which have fallen considerably in recent years as a result of low water-levels.
Pelecanus crispus is thought to have bred in small numbers until 1990 and
Chettusia leucura bred until 1986.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The area of wet marsh has decreased in size from c.16,000 ha in 1985 to a few hundred hectares today, as a result of inputs being diverted for irrigation. Current plans involve conversion to a reservoir; embankments will be constructed and the water-level raised to 15 m above its present level. All remaining natural habitats will undoubtedly disappear as a result. DSÝ has promised mitigation measures (details unavailable at the time of writing). No environmental impact assessment has been carried out.
National Partial
International NoneThe northern half of the IBA covered by SÝT (Hotamýþ Sazlýðý).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Hotamış Marshes (Türkiye). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hotamış-marshes-iba-türkiye on 23/11/2024.
