Kuzey Doga (Northeastern Nature Society) is a Turkish conservation non-governmental organization operating primarily in the far eastern section of the country, with a focal area ranging from the shores of the Black Sea to Mount Ararat. The society was formed in 2008[1] and is headquartered in the major regional city of Kars in Kars Province. The society[2] receives funding from private donations, oil and gas interests, the government of Turkey, the United Nations and various international conservation groups, most notably the Whitley Fund for Nature and the Christensen Fund. The society is primarily concerned with documenting and studying the migratory bird life in the region. The Society has partnerships with several Turkish and international organizations and universities. Its projects are often covered in the mainstream Turkish Media[3].
Focal Endeavors
editInventorying and protecting the biodiversity of this key, but apparently globally ignored region of the world is at the core of the society[4]. The society accomplishes their goals through various focal endeavors:
Bird Monitoring and Conservation is at the core interest of the society[5]. To date, Kuzey Doga researchers have documented more than 220 bird species in this region (more than half of all the bird species ever recorded across the entire country to date)[6]. The society has operated two bird ringing (bird banding) stations in the past, although currently focuses on the single Aras River station. In addition to capturing and counting birds in the warmer months of the year, society technicians have also placed radio transmitters on various bird species ranging from small song birds to larger vultures.
Landscape Protection efforts are closely related to the society's interest in birds. The most notable achievement here is the creation/designation of 416 ha of Lake Kuyucuk (Kuyucuk Golu) as the Kuyucuk Lake Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 2009.[7] . This shallow lake harbors many migratory birds and has been used for many centuries by at least three surrounding villages.
Wildlife Corridors work focuses primarily on large carnivorous vertebrates and centers in and around the forested regions of the Sarikamis-Allahuekber Mountains National Park.
Large Carnivore Ecology efforts are focused on European brown bears and gray wolves. To date the society has tagged more than 10 bears and 6 wolves, primarily in collaboration with Zagreb University in Croatia. Animals are briefly and humanely anesthetized, fitted with temporary radio collars and released unharmed. These tracking collars, combined with information from wildlife cameras sprinkled across the region, allow society researchers to describe the movements and home ranges of these key members of the ecosystem over the course of many months. This is the primary information which feeds in to their wildlife corridor proposals.
Ecological Restoration projects are most closely tied to wetland protection and bird migration. The first efforts predate the formal founding of the Society and to date include wetland restoration projects at Kafkas University and Lake Kuyucuk[8] .
Public Education is central to most of the work of the society and includes both local and national efforts within Turkey and inter national outreach. Perhaps the most successful projects here at the annual Birding Day at Lake Kuyucuk and continual school-aged field trips to introduce local children to the wonderful birds and other wildlife living around them. Education efforts are expansive and include botanical and invertebrate illustration classes for both locals and international artists.
Ecotourism is a continual effort. The society has both started and helped to expand the small, but growing bird ecotourism in the eastern section of Turkey. Nature tours are a way to both signal the value of functioning ecosystems to local villagers and local populations as well as provide direct monies to local peoples (via birding guides, letting rooms to visitors, providing meals, and so forth).
References
edit- ^ "Who are we?". Kuzey Doga Society. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ "KuzeyDoga Homepage". Kuzey Doga Society. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- ^ "Kuzey Doga Media Coverage". Kuzey Doga Society. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ Sekercioglu, Cagan (December 2011). "Turkey's Globally Important Biodiversity In Crisis" (PDF). Biological Conservation. 144 (12): 2752-2769. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2011.06.025. S2CID 18094317. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ "National Geographic Explorer Bio". National Geographic. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
- ^ "KuzeyDoga Annual Report 2010". Kuzey Doga Society. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ "Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance". Ramsar Convention. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ "Eastern Anatolian Wetland Restoration". California State University. Retrieved 5 October 2013.