Plan to Minimise Alteration of Aquatic Ecosystems

1) Institutional Commitment & Strategic Basis

Atatürk University recognises that its region’s freshwater ecosystems (lakes, rivers, streams) are subject to physical, chemical and biological alterations — through land-use change, aquaculture, effluent discharges, invasive species, and climate pressures. In response, the University has adopted a comprehensive “Aquatic Ecosystems Protection & Sustainable Use Plan”, which integrates research, monitoring, outreach and operational actions to minimise such alterations and support ecosystem integrity. The plan is guided by:

• Türkiye’s National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan (for freshwater systems) Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma

• The University’s internal frameworks (e.g., the Biodiversity Application & Research Centre (ABBM) mandates on ecosystem protection) LEXPERA

• Relevant aquaculture and aquatic-resource management programmes (e.g., the Faculty of Fisheries Inland Fisheries Research & Application Unit) Erzurum Gün E Bakış

2) Plan Objectives

The Plan sets out the following key objectives:

• Physical protection: Prevent and reverse habitat modification of aquatic ecosystems (e.g., stream channeling, bank erosion, sedimentation, loss of riparian vegetation).

• Chemical integrity: Control inputs of pollutants, nutrients, chemicals and plastics into freshwater systems, thereby preserving water-quality and reducing eutrophication or toxic-loads.

• Biological resilience: Maintain natural species assemblages, prevent invasive introductions, and support sustainable aquaculture and capture practices to avoid overharvesting, stock-depletion and biodiversity loss.

• Stakeholder engagement and monitoring: Deploy monitoring systems, data-collection and community-based actions to track ecosystem changes and respond adaptively.

3) Implementation Actions

3.1 Habitat and physical-ecosystem measures

• At the Faculty of Fisheries and Inland Fisheries Research & Application Unit, site upgrades ensure that fish-production facilities are designed to minimise habitat disruption, avoid wild-capture pressure on native populations and support broodstock conservation. Erzurum Gün E Bakış

• The University campus partners with local land-management and conservation bodies to support riparian restoration, erosion-control plantings and vegetation buffers along watercourses, via its BAUM and community outreach programmes. abbm.atauni.edu.tr

3.2 Chemical-load reduction & water-quality protection

• Effluent-pre-treatment protocols, wastewater monitoring and the University’s internal guidelines for waste-waters and hazardous discharges (as described elsewhere) contribute to limiting chemical alteration of aquatic ecosystems.

• Training programmes for students and staff address aquatic-ecosystem sensitivity to nutrient/pollutant loads and drive best practice across campus operations and affiliated aquaculture ventures.

3.3 Biological ecosystem management

• The BAUM engages in inventorying and monitoring species, particularly threatened and endemic taxa, and uses the findings to inform aquaculture and capture regulation in the region (thus supporting sustainable use and preventing biological harm) abbm.atauni.edu.tr

• The University supports the Inland Fisheries Unit in producing fish seed and broodstock (rather than relying solely on wild populations), thereby reducing physical/biological pressure on natural aquatic ecosystems in the region. Erzurum Gün E Bakış

3.4 Monitoring, data-collection & adaptive management

• The University convened a “Biodiversity Protection Workshop” in November 2022, hosted by BAUM, involving regional stakeholders and agencies to align on monitoring frameworks for species and habitat change. Erzurum Gün E Bakış

• Research collaborations, specimen collections, and taxonomic databases maintained by the ABBM support long-term monitoring of ecosystem condition and can detect alterations early. abbm.atauni.edu.tr

4) Governance & Stakeholder Integration

• The Plan is overseen by the Sustainability Coordination Board, with technical implementation by ABBM, the Faculty of Fisheries, and the Environmental Problems Application & Research Centre.

• External stakeholder collaboration includes agencies such as the regional Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, provincial water authorities, local aquaculture producers and community organisations. For instance, the 2022 workshop included such partners. Erzurum Gün E Bakış

• The Plan embeds responsibilities into departmental work-plans, student projects, and community outreach — ensuring integration of ecosystem-protection into teaching, research and service functions.

5) Evidence of Progress & Institutionalization

• The renewed inland fish-production facility at the Faculty of Fisheries demonstrates investment in infrastructure designed to support sustainable production rather than destructive practices. Kars Hakimiyet

• BAUM’s establishment under University regulation (Merit law) indicates institutionalization of ecosystem- and biodiversity-focused research and management. LEXPERA

• The University’s website and news items emphasise “Species & Ecosystem Protection” as a core activity within BAUM. abbm.atauni.edu.tr

6) Outcome Indicators & Reporting

The Plan includes KPI categories such as:

• Number of habitat-restoration sites implemented (riparian, stream bank, wetlands).

• Reduction in sedimentation/turbidity levels or bank-erosion rates in monitored watercourses.

• Number of invasive or non-native species reported/reduced via monitoring.

• Volume of wild-capture fish avoided due to hatchery seed production.

• Number of training sessions, stakeholder workshops or community engagements delivered on ecosystem alteration themes.
  Annual reports summarise these outcomes and feed into the University’s sustainability disclosure.