Ecology and Politics of Rehabilitation: Mogan Lake Wetland Ecosystem, Ankara, Turkey

Abstract

The total area of wetlands in Turkey has been estimated to be between 800,000 and 1,000,000 ha (Ozesmi and Ozesmi 1996). Since 1960 at least 1,300,000 ha of wetlands have been lost because of reclamation, drainage, irrigation, and damming (Magnin and Yarar 1997). Of the total amount of wetlands, about 80% is threatened by large-scale agricultural projects, urban and industrial development, and pollution from agriculture, urban populations, and industry. These have threatened Mogan Lake wetland ecosystem (Figure 1), one of the four wetlands in Turkey where any kind of rehabilitation project has been considered (the other three are Avian Golu, Amik Golu, and Camalti Tuzlasi). In the first part of this chapter, the importance of Mogan Lake wetland ecosystem both as a recreational site and as wildlife habitat is presented. In the second part, the chapter analyzes how claims of degradation of the ecosystem have been constructed and supported by a community of scientists, consultants, municipalities, and government agencies. Finally, the chapter demonstrates how methods of rehabilitation are proposed based on socio-political considerations rather than an understanding of wetland ecology.