Lake Seyfe (Turkey)

Abstract

Lake Seyfe is located in the tectonic depression of north-eastern Kırşehir Province and the centre of the Anatololian Region. Lake Seyfe is a Nature Conservation Site and Ramsar Site covering 10,700 ha. It is also recognized internationally as a Key Biodiversity Area, Important Bird Area, and Important Plant Area (Eken et al. 2006; Çagırankaya and Meriç 2013). The site supports rare bird species such as the great bustard Otis tarda, Eurasian kestrel Falco tinnunculus, Eurasian crane Grus grus, ruddy shelduck Tadorna ferruginea, and large clusters of greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus. The site was designated as a Natural Site of First Degree in 1989. It was designated as a Nature Conservation Site in 1990 and part of the area listed as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1994. The visitor center is located at Seyfe Village and is owned by the Directorate General of the Nature Conservation and National Parks. The Lake Seyfe Ramsar Site meets three of the nine criteria of the Ramsar Convention.

There is no significant stream source at the site. Local people use the groundwater that feeds the lake for agriculture. Groundwater resources were sufficient until 2000, but have decreased substantially since 2002, and since 2007 the Ministry has forbidden any new uses of groundwater within the Seyfe basin. The water from the lake is brackish and contains sodium, so it cannot be used directly for agriculture, whereas the groundwater feeding into the lake is used for household needs as well as for irrigation.

Management Structure Lake Seyfe comes under the competency of the Directorate General of Nature Conservation and National Parks of the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs and the Directorate of Forestry and Water Affairs of the Provincial Kırşehir for its designation as a Ramsar Site and its status as a Nature Conservation Site. The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization is also responsible for the site as it has a conservation status as a Natural Site. The area within the boundaries of the Ramsar Site is state property, while the area outside the boundaries of the Ramsar site consists of state, village entities, and private property.