1) Context and Institutional Commitment
Atatürk University recognises that the Eastern Anatolia region—characterised by river systems (such as the Karasu and Aras basins), lakes, streams and high-altitude wetlands—supports unique aquatic species diversity facing pressures from land use change, aquaculture, climate variability and watershed alteration. In response, the University has developed and implemented a formal Watershed Management Strategy that is explicitly tailored to local aquatic species-diversity, linking site-specific ecosystems with management actions, monitoring, stakeholder partnerships, and educational events.
Significantly, last year Atatürk University organised the event “Aquatic Species Diversity and Watershed Management: Applied Strategies for Local Ecosystems” (original in Turkish: “Sucul Canlı Türlerinin Çeşitliliği ve Havza Yönetimi: Yerel Ekosistemler İçin Uygulamalı Stratejiler”). At this event, academics, local government representatives, environmental NGOs, farmers and students came together; panels discussed “Local Ecosystems and Aquatic Species Diversity”, applied workshops offered “Watershed Management Strategy Implementation”, and field-visits enabled participants to observe University-led monitoring and ecosystem management projects in situ. This event laid a strong foundation for the University’s watershed-management strategy and demonstrates the University’s commitment to location-specific aquatic ecosystem stewardship.
2) Strategy Overview & Objectives
The Watershed Management Strategy centres around:
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Mapping and inventorying aquatic species diversity across selected watershed units adjacent to University facilities and regional watercourses (streams, rivers, reservoirs).
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Protecting and restoring aquatic-habitat structure, hydrology and ecological integrity by preventing physical, chemical and biological alterations within the watershed domain.
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Engaging local stakeholders (fishers, aquaculture producers, land-users, municipalities, NGOs) in watershed-scale actions that safeguard aquatic species and ecosystems.
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Integrating research, monitoring and applied action in a feedback-loop so that species-diversity data informs management actions and vice-versa.
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Embedding educational, outreach and student-participation components so that local communities and future professionals contribute to and understand watershed-based diversity management.
3) Location-Specific Implementation
3.1 Watershed Units and Species Focus
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The University has identified several watershed units (for example tributaries of the Karasu and high-altitude freshwater systems around the campuses) where aquatic species diversity is significant (freshwater fish, macroinvertebrates, riparian plants).
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Within these units, the University’s Biodiversity Application & Research Centre (BAUM) maintains specimen collections, species inventories (c. 10,000 species in the museum) and monitors aquatic species populations—providing a species-diversity baseline for management.
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The Watershed Strategy uses this species-diversity data to prioritise watershed sub-units where control of land-use change, riparian restoration, aquaculture effluent control or invasive species prevention is critical.
3.2 Watershed Actions
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Riparian buffer restoration around selected streams to improve aquatic habitat quality, reduce sedimentation/erosion, and maintain plant and animal diversity.
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Aquaculture/hatchery-based supply (Inland Fisheries Research & Application Unit) to reduce pressure on wild populations in the watershed region.
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Water-quality and hydrology monitoring in watershed streams and reservoirs to detect alteration and respond adaptively.
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Community-based workshops and field-visits (such as those held at the above-mentioned University event) where stakeholders develop practical solutions in watersheds (e.g., erosion control, sustainable land-use, aquatic species protection).
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Integration with University curricula and outreach: the event described leveraged at-site visits, applied workshops, and stakeholder collaboration thereby reinforcing the strategy’s location-specific dimension.
4) Governance, Monitoring & Stakeholder Engagement
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The Strategy is managed by the University’s sustainability governance structure, with coordination by the Faculty of Fisheries, BAUM, and the Environmental Problems Application & Research Centre.
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Monitoring includes: species-diversity indices (fish, macroinvertebrates, riparian plants), water-quality/hydrological parameters, habitat-integrity indicators (bank erosion, sediment load). Data is used to adjust management actions.
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Stakeholders (local producers, municipalities, NGOs, students) are engaged via field-based participatory workshops, community-service projects (TDP) and university-industry partnerships.
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The University’s event “Aquatic Species Diversity & Watershed Management…” enabled multi-stakeholder dialogue, applied workshop development, and commitment from participants to stronger collaboration, demonstrating the strategy’s stakeholder-inclusion dimension.
5) Evidence of Implementation & Outcomes
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The University event (panel, workshops, field visits) demonstrates a shift from general statements to practical, location-specific watershed strategy oriented to aquatic species diversity and ecosystems.
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The University’s aquaculture unit produces seed (reducing wild capture) and operates in the same watershed context, reflecting operationalisation of the strategy.
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BAUM’s large specimen collections and species-diversity programmes underpin the species-inventory component of the strategy.
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The strategy aligns with national watershed-management frameworks and research literature emphasising the need for ecosystem-based, participatory watershed plans in Türkiye. (See e.g., literature on holistic basin management) DergiPark+1
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The University’s incorporation of community and industry engagement creates real-world impact beyond purely academic planning.
