Is the 8,000 year old Lake Bafa adequately protected?

In his column 2 days ago, national.com.tr writer Abdullah Gürgün claimed that an olive oil factory was established near the "S.S. Bafa Natural Life Agricultural Production and Marketing Cooperative". Gürgün wrote in his article: "A factory cannot be built on a wet agricultural land, in a historical place called "Great Graveyard", "Meşedlik". There is no rain today (Monday), I went and looked, they fill the land with stone, earth, rubble, and gravel. It's not enough. They will probably pour concrete as well. Thus, the cemetery of Muslims, Christians and pre-Christians, the historical area called "Big Cemetery" or "Meşedlik" will be buried in history forever. There is no place to build a factory in such olive groves. Why wasn't it built in the Bafa Industrial Zone, this freaky building, which looks like a huge cardboard, does not befit the beautiful nature and history in and around Lake Bafa.

Last week, AA wrote that Bafa is home to 261 bird species, is an important shelter for birds, and there are many archaeological settlements on the shore of the lake.

In the region, the islands in the lake and especially the trees on these islands are used as breeding grounds by waterfowl, especially herons. It is known that Ulubat fish (Acanthobrama mirabilis), endemic to the Büyük Menderes Basin, lives in the lake.

Nature Association; There are no large facilities within the boundaries of the lake's conservation area. Illegal hunting is a serious threat to the wildlife living in the lake. Small-scale accommodation facilities on the lake shore do not have treatment facilities. The embankment in the northwest of the KBA interferes with the water regime of the lake and affects the natural life in the lake. He wrote on his website that the water returning from the agricultural areas around the lake causes pollution in the lake and that all these are a threat to the lake.

Mugla Governor Orhan Tavli; "Bafa Lake and its surroundings are an important breeding and wintering area for waterfowl. Tens of thousands of clumsy meeks overwinter in winter. The region is also an important wintering area for crested pelicans." said. Stating that the region is under protection with archaeological and natural sites, Tavlı noted that excavations have been carried out in the ancient city of Heraklia by the lake for two years and visitors visit these areas. Tavlı stated that Lake Bafa is of international importance due to its biological diversity, endangered species and endemic species, and that it is protected by the international Ramsar, Bern, Rio conventions and the Barcelona Convention.

Again, in various news sites, it was written that the wild birds, endemic plants and fish in the Bafa Lake Nature Park were protected by the gendarmerie teams.

Yesterday, he talked about Lake Bafa Nature Park in the weekly talk programs of the Ecosystem Conservation and Nature Lovers Association (EKODOSD). EKODOSD President Bahattin Sürücü said, "The story of the work of Rose Mary Baldwin and DHKD President Nergis Yazgan, who made a significant contribution to the protection of the lake, and the events that followed were mentioned. Environmental problems and businesses that disrupt the ecology of the lake, studies and projects carried out with public institutions, scientists, non-governmental organizations on this subject were shown periodically, and the negative effects of the problems on the local economy were explained. The damages of the mines, which cause deep destruction in the extraordinary beauty of the natural landscape, which is integrated with the Latmos Mountains behind the Bafa Lake, and its negative effects on the wildlife in the lake ecosystem were explained. The problems caused by closing the entrances and exits of the lake every year, the concerns of the farmers if it is opened, and the studies of the wetland commission on what to do were mentioned.

In other words, the problems of our precious Bafa Lake are being discussed. But do the authorities have a solution approach regarding the damages of this olive oil factory and the destruction of the mines? What are the radical solution decisions that will prevent the factory and possible threats? We know that our people are not sensitive enough about the protection of our natural and cultural riches, but I think the authorities need to be more sanitary and develop more concrete solutions for the protection of Lake Bafa. For example, can the officials of this olive oil factory come out and say that our factory does not harm the lake?

Yasemin Arslan