T-PVS/Files (2005) 9: Update Report and Review of Nature Conservation Measures in Patara SPA

Strasbourg, 5 October 2005 [files09e_2005.doc]

T-PVS/Files (2005) 09

CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION OF EUROPEAN WILDLIFE AND NATURAL HABITATS Standing Committee

25th meeting

Strasbourg, 28 November-1 December 2005

Document for information

Update report and review of nature conservation measures in Patara Spa (Turkey)

Report by the NGO

Document prepared by MEDASSET (The Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles), Marine Turtle Conservation in the Mediterranean This document will not be distributed at the meeting. Please bring this copy.

Ce document ne sera plus distribué en réunion. Prière de vous munir de cet exemplaire.

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Marine Turtle Conservation in the Mediterranean UPDATE REPORT AND REVIEW OF NATURE CONSERVATION MEASURES IN PATARA SPA, TURKEY Report to the 25th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) Prepared by MEDASSET The Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles With grateful thanks to Dr Pamir Yilmaz and Stephanie Perkin October 2005

CONTENTS 1.

Introduction

2.

Summer 2005 2.1

Patara Beach

2.2

Çayağzi

2.3

Letoon

3.

Recommendations

4.

T-PVS Reports

5.

References

6.

Maps

7.

Photographs

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1. INTRODUCTION Turkey is one of the three Mediterranean countries (along with Greece and Cyprus) where major loggerhead nesting grounds are located (Groombridge, 1988). The Significance of Patara Beach in Turkey, an important nesting site mainly for loggerhead turtles, was first recorded during a survey conducted in 1988 (Baran and Kasparek, 1989). In 2000, two green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nests were also identified, representing the first record of this species in Patara (Erdogan et al., 2001) and the westernmost substantiated site for Chelonia mydas nesting in the Mediterranean (Kasparek et al., 2001).

Since 1988, there has been considerable concern that uncontrolled tourism development may cause the loss or degradation of this important turtle-nesting habitat and nearby archaeological site.

The depletion of nesting beaches through tourism development is one of the main threats to turtles nesting in the Mediterranean, where, over the last few decades, many coastal regions have been urbanised (Venizelos, 2003 & 1989, Baren & Kasparek, 1989).

The issue of Patara was first raised by MEDASSET in 1988 and was subsequently supported by others at the Standing Committee of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) Meetings. Since then it has been discussed on a regular basis.

Following the Standing Committee’s suggestion in January 1996 (T-PVS (96) 50) that the case of the marine turtles in Patara be addressed urgently, an on-the-spot appraisal was carried out between 21st and 23rd August the same year to clarify the situation. The appraisal Report that followed (TPVS (96) 65) made detailed Recommendations, and in December 1996 the Standing Committee decided to open a file on Patara to monitor the effectiveness of conservation measures there.

MEDASSET carried out a field survey in summer 1998, submitting a report to the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention with detailed specific Recommendations for Conservation and Management (T-PVS (98) 49). Further updated reports and reviews of Conservation Measures were submitted in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. In view of the generally positive development it was decided at the 2001 Standing Committee Meeting to close the file, despite some extant problems. Turkey was asked to continue submitting reports to the Standing Committee on progress made.

As a result of MEDASSET’s ongoing “Save Patara” campaign begun in 1989 in collaboration with Turkish archaeologist Prof. Icik of Antalya University, the Programme Officer of UNEP/MAP was invited by the Turkish government to visit Patara on 12 March 2002 regarding the campaign proposal to instate “World Heritage Site Status”.

The aim of this review is to monitor the progress made since summer 2004 towards the implementation of the Recommendations for Conservation and Management in Patara to the Standing Committee in the abovementioned reports, T-PVS (96) 65 and T-PVS (98) 49.

2.

SUMMER 2005

2.1. Patara Beach: •

In summer 2005 the cordoned area run by the Merinem Resort Hotel (formerly the Beyhan Hotel) which accommodates the sun-beds and other tourist facilities (toilets, bar and sun-bed rental hut – see photos) was extended considerably and now stretches over 300m of the water’s edge. The management of these facilities was tendered out by the Hotel, to people who appear to be rather better disposed towards the turtles: Although numbers of sun beds and umbrellas increased, beds were collected and stacked at night in piles of 10-20 and staggered to allow turtles access around them (see photos) and littering was reduced. Umbrellas were also collected at night. As in previous years, guests from the hotel used the facilities at a concessionary rate on presentation of a hotel wristband, but other visitors were charged a fee.

•

As in summer 2004, visitors who did not wish to pay, used the beach beyond the hotel’s cordoned area to the east, thus encroaching further onto nesting territory. Outside the cordoned area litter continued to be a problem as there were no litterbins.

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•

At either side of the Hotel’s cordoned area, there was a line of wooden marker posts, at 3m intervals stretching for approx. 50m, 20m in from the shore. Signs on these posts (see photo) indicated that it was a nesting area. This was established in order to prevent people walking on the nests, and although people appeared not to use it for placing sun beds etc, it provided the quickest exit route from the beach (see photos).

•

Video footage filmed in October 2004, showed effluent emptying into the sea from the beach facilities. This may be contaminating a large area of beach, out of sight under the sand. An assessment of disposal practices is required.

•

A new information kiosk has been established at the entrance to the beach which functioned from late August after all nesting and much hatching had come to an end. Limited information about turtle conservation was displayed inside and outside the hut and it was manned between the hours of 1pm and 8pm by a very enthusiastic local resident who is paid a small salary by the government.

•

Following the establishment of the kiosk and attendant in late August there was no further horse riding on the beach at Patara. Riders were moved up the coast towards Çayağzi. A sign has been erected at the entrance of the beach mentioning that horse and camel riding is prohibited.

•

At the beginning of May there was a successful litter-collecting campaign, organised by the Antalya Environment Office, but since then there has been no further cleaning. There were signs in Turkish, to the East of the access road prohibiting littering, however until the kiosk was established in late August there was no policing / monitoring of the beach to ensure people complied with this.

•

The unused “restaurant” building on the beach access road is still not in use, but continues to represent the best potential alternative to the facilities on the beach. Were this to be reestablished as a bar/restaurant it would attract people away from the nesting area, thus reducing littering and disturbance.

•

At the end of August, with the introduction of the kiosk/attendant there were no people on the beach after 8pm. The curfew was also enforced by gendarmes.

•

Students from Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, conducting fieldwork, used natural materials to mark the positioning of nests, to prevent curious tourists from finding them. They also transferred some vulnerable nests to safe areas of the beach to prevent them being trampled.

Metal screens were used to protect the nests from predators and exact nest positioning was identified using GPS.

•

The leaflet that was produced in 2003, listing prohibitions on the nesting beach, pictographically, in Turkish and English was not available.

•

Restrictions that aim to keep boats 2 miles from the shore were ignored, as boat operators remained uninformed about this rule.

2.2. Çayağzi •

Although sand extraction sites were not observed, trucks laden with sand/gravel were seen coming from Çayağzi in late October 2004. In the summer of 2005 there were signs prohibiting this.

•

Conservation information signs were only in Turkish.

•

There was some rubbish at the river mouth and on the beach – a mixture of manmade rubbish and natural flotsam and jetsam.

•

There is still evidence of erosion in different parts of the beach. As it is subjected to constant wind action, the sand shifts towards the high parts of the dune and creates ridges on the beach.

Acacia trees planted in the upper part of the dune forming a barrier to sand are exacerbating the erosion – tall species increase sand deposition rather than stabilising the dune system.

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•

A new rubble and soil barrier has been constructed to prevent vehicle access to the beach. It would appear to be impenetrable by vehicles, but there is some concern that winter weather may disperse the rubble and soil onto the nesting beach, thus altering the consistency of the sand and causing obstruction to successful turtle nesting and hatching next summer.

•

Camping continues on the riverbanks, within view of the beach, causing light and noise problems. Noise prevents turtles from nesting and light disorientates hatchlings so they can’t find the sea.

2.3. Letoon •

Letoon seemed, once again, to be faring well under local control. Conditions remained the same as last year - the kiosk was run by the local authorities; separate bins for plastics, glass and paper were set at 50m intervals along the beach; a barrier prevented vehicle access to the beach, but there was still camping on the riverbanks, in view of the beach.

•

Windsurfers were observed at sea.

3. RECOMMENDATIONS •

A study of the waste and sewage disposal measures adopted by the Merinem Resort Hotel in the cordoned area of the beach is urgently required for human users of the beach as well as for turtle conservation.

•

A restoration project for the dunes of Çayağzi that aims to re-establish a Mediterranean dune ecosystem, by planting native vegetation, should be considered.

•

Although litter collecting carried out by the Antalya Environment office was a positive step which should be encouraged, litterbins should be provided (and regularly emptied – without the use of vehicles on the beach) by the local municipality.

•

Expansion of the Merinem Resort Hotel’s cordoned area is of considerable concern. Further expansion and development on the beach must be stopped immediately.

•

Provision of educational materials relating to conservation should be provided for the kiosk on the beach and further environmental conservation education for local people, perhaps through the establishment of an Information Centre in Patara.

•

The redundant off-beach “restaurant / kiosk” (on the beach access road) could be put to good use. Run as an alternative to the café/bar on the beach it would attract people away from the nesting area to eat, reducing littering and disturbance.

4.

T-PVS REPORTS

Technical reports presented by MEDASSET to the Standing Committee to the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) at the Council of Europe, published under T-PVS Reference: Patara (Turkey): T-PVS (96) 53A: MEDASSET (P. Yilmaz, University of Akdeniz): Conservation of Loggerhead Turtles, Caretta caretta, and Construction Projects on the Beach of Patara (Turkey), 2 pages.

(Follow-up report with Comments on the: ‘Status Report on Patara Specially Protected Area, Turkey’ by the Authority for the Protection of Special Areas, APSA (23/5/96)).

T-PVS (96) 53: MEDASSET: Conservation of Loggerhead Turtles, Caretta caretta, and Construction Projects on the Beach of Patara (Turkey), 9 pages. (Brief Update on MEDASSET’s action to “Save Patara” 1989-1996).

T-PVS (97) 45: P. Yilmaz, University of Akdeniz: Marine Turtle Conservation in Patara, Turkey, follow-up report, 4 pages.

T-PVS (98) 49: MEDASSET (additional information P. Yilmaz, University of Akdeniz): Specific Site, Marine Turtle Conservation in Patara, Turkey, 13 pages.

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T-PVS (99) 69: MEDASSET: Specific Site, Caretta caretta in Patara (Turkey), 11 pages. (Status Report and Review of Nature Conservation Measures).

T-PVS (2000) 57: MEDASSET, (information supplied by P. Yilmaz, Univerity of Akdeniz and Trevor Jones): Conservation of the marine turtle, Caretta caretta, in Patara Turkey, 13 pages. (Update Report and Review of Nature Conservation Measures).

T-PVS (2001) 72: MEDASSET, (information supplied by P. Yilmaz, University of Akdeniz, Trevor Jones and 4 volunteers): Review of Nature Conservation Situation in Patara Spa, Turkey, 11 pages.

T-PVS/Files (2002) 14: MEDASSET, (information supplied by P. Yilmaz, Univerity of Akdeniz): Update Report and Review of Nature Conservation Measures in Patara SPA (Turkey), 10 pages.

T-PVS/Files (2003) 12:, prepared by Dr. Monica Aureggi, Update Report and Review of Nature Conservation Measures in Patara SPA (Turkey), 25 pages.

T-PVS/Files (2004) 13: Commissioned by MEDASSET, information supplied by T.A. Cutbush, A. Cutbush and Dr. P. Yilmaz, Update Report and Review of Nature Conservation Measures in Patara SPA (Turkey, 7 pages.

5.

REFERENCES.

Aureggi, M. 2001. green turtle monitoring programme: Kazanli Beach, Turkey, 2001. RAC/SPA (UNEP-map) Baran, I., and M. Kasparek 1989. Marine turtles in Turkey. Status survey 1988 and recommendations for conservation and management. WWF report.

Erdogan, A., M. Öz, Kaska, Y., Düsen, S., Aslan, A., Yavuz, M. R. Tunc, and H. Sert 2001. Marine turtles nesting at Patara, Turkey, in 2000. Zoology in the Middle East 24: 31 –34.

Groombridge 1988. Marine turtles in the Mediterranean; distribution, population status, conservation, World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, p. 57.

Kasparek, M., J.B., Godley, and A.C., Broderick 2001. Nesting of the Green turtle, Chelonia mydas, in the Mediterranean: a review of status and conservation needs. Zoology in the Middle East 24: 4574.

T-PVS (96) 65: On-the-spot Appraisal Undertaken for the Council of Europe (21-23 August 1996) by Dr. Jean Lescure: Conservation of Caretta caretta in Patara Turkey, 14 pages.

Venizelos, L., 2003 in press. Sustainable tourism and sea turtles: Analysing the Mediterranean experience…footsteps in the sand. In: Margaritoulis, D., A. Demetropoulos (Compilers).

Proceedings of the first Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles. Barcelona Convention – Bern Convention – Bonn Convention (CMS). Nicosia, Cyprus, pp. 212-216.

Venizelos, L., 1989. Pressure on the endangered Mediterranean sea turtle is increasing due to the growing impact of tourism on important nesting beaches both in Greece and in Turkey (Two examples). Naturopa, Izmir Proceedings, Council of Europe, pp 41-42.

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6. MAPS

: SPA Boundary

Map of the Patara beach and SPA. The dotted lines indicate the borders of areas which have been protected as “archaeological sites�.

PATARA

The 17 major marine turtle nesting areas of Turkey, as assessed by WWF/International in 1988

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7.

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PHOTOGRAPHS

Photo 1: Patara Beach: Beach furniture, beach huts and (polluting) toilet facilities encroach further onto nesting territory. This year 330m of the beach was cordoned off by the Merinem Resort Hotel.

Photo 2: Patara Beach: A boardwalk, causing obstruction to nesting turtles, leads down to the Merinem Resort Hotel’s (polluting) toilet facilities, bar and sun beds.

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Footprints in nesting area

Photo 3: Patara Beach: Wooden posts marking the beginning of the nesting area were established to prevent people walking on nests. Although people appeared not to use it for placing sun beds etc, it provided the quickest exit route from the beach, clearly evident from the footprints!

Photo 4: ÇayaÄ&#x;zi Beach: the new barrier prevents vehicle access to the beach, but may pose future threats to nesting if winter weather spreads rubble and soil across the beach