Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
The largest area of intact wetland on the Turkish Black Sea coast, comprising open water, marsh vegetation (including vast reedbeds), sand-dunes, farmland and remnant woodland (including
Alnus/
Fraxinus seasonally-flooded forest). The lake edges support
Phragmites and
Typha; the dunes support maquis-like vegetation. Outside the IBA, the delta is used for grazing and intensive arable production. Reed-cutting is an important economic activity (`Other' land-use).
The site is very important for breeding, wintering and passage waterbirds, with over 10,000 waders passing through the delta in spring. Thirty-five species of passerine breed in the forests and
Haliaeetus albicilla has bred in the past.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The Bafra irrigation project will claim a large part of the remaining wetland. Other major threats include pollution from agricultural run-off and untreated sewage, and the construction of holiday homes. Illegal hunting still takes place. Fish catches have declined in the eastern half of the delta, possibly as a result of over-fishing and pollution. Sand extraction, although illegal, is common. Reed-burning occurs throughout the year to improve grazing conditions. DHKD ran a conservation project from 1992 to 1997 and lobbied for suitable protection for the area. A 1996 management plan regulates all land-use in the delta, and places restrictions on the construction of holiday homes.
National High
International Partial4,000 ha of IBA covered by Permanent Wildlife Reserve (Kýzýlýrmak Deltasý, 4,000 ha). 11,000 ha of IBA covered by SÝT (Kýzýlýrmak Deltasý, 11,000 ha). 11,000 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Kýzýlýrmak Deltasý, 11,000 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kızılırmak Delta (Türkiye). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kızılırmak-delta-iba-türkiye on 23/12/2024.
