Coastal Zone Problems and Environmental Strategies to be Implemented at Edremit Bay, Turkey

Abstract

This case study examines the coastal zone problems focusing on the existing conflicts between tourism and commercial activities on the coasts of Edremit Bay, Turkey, and attempts to suggest solutions to these problems. Edremit Bay is a characteristic example of such a conflict in collective use of natural resources. The study area, with its 100-km-long sandy beach, naturally attracts different coastal user groups with different beneficial expectations: in terms of rest and recreation for one group and commercial gain offered in a variety of ways for another group. Significant coastal zone problems exist in the study area. Deterioration of shoreline due to tourism activities and illegal constructions, damage to the coastal ecosystem due to domestic/industrial wastewater discharges and some agricultural activities, and disordered urbanization are only a few of the many problems. The data presented here were partly derived from field study and partly collected from local state or private organizations. In this study, it is emphasized that there is a need for viable economic and environmental strategies to be designated in Edremit Bay, Turkey, in order to provide sustainable resource use. For this purpose, an integrated project together with a relevant planning chart including subprojects is also suggested. The success of a local environmental protection management project depends on active participation of all stakeholders including governmental organizations and nongovernmental organizations.

Detecting Coastal Urbanization and Land Use Change in Southern Turkey

“…Alphan, Yilmaz (2005) reported that agriculture has increasingly grown over marginal areas and urban development occurred at the expense of prime croplands in the eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Other parts of the Turkish Mediterranean coast such as Kusadasi and Edremit bay faced similar problems resulting from development (Kara et al 2013;Irtem et al 2005). Intense human uses also cause complex LU/LC changes around the Mediterranean basin (Salvati, Sabbi 2011).…”

Effects of urban sprawl on agricultural land: a case study of Kahramanmaraş, Turkey

“…All the above degradation and destruction forms of the environment result in sometimes reversible but mostly irreversible conversions of land uses and land covers such as losses of forests, wetlands, and coastal and agricultural lands to urban areas (Davis and Froend 1999;Irtem et al 2005;Bolca et al 2007;Keleş et al 2008;Kesgin and Nurlu 2008).…”

Institutions Shaping Coastal Ecosystems: The Algarve Case

“…In some areas intense agriculture for export relying on irrigation has expanded locally, taking advantage of favorable climate and/or European subsidies (see for example below or Valenzuela Montes & Mataran Ruiz, 2008;Suarez de Viveiro & Rodrigues Mateos, 2005;Irtem et al, 2005). For the Mediterranean coastlines of Spain, and Turkey and the Atlantic Southern coast of Portugal, the EEA confirms, almost without exception, the presence of salinated aquifers and declining quality of coastal (bathing) waters.…”

“…Suares de Vivero et al (2005) explicitly address the role of institutions and the lack of "adequate sectoral policies" in Spain. Irtem et al (2005) report similar problems and advocate institutional solutions for water resource and nature conservation problems emerging from urbanization and agricultural activities at Edremit Bay in Turkey.…”