Community-based conservation of Lake Kuyucuk, Kars, Turkey

Onder Cirik

Despite hosting over 30,000 birds of 128 species, Lake Kuyucuk, in the Caucasian Biodiversity Hotspot, is little-protected, little-known and lacks a conservation plan. The local government lacks the necessary knowledge, capacity, and qualified people. We will do a full ornithological assessment and conservation plan of the lake and petition for the strictest conservation status in Turkey. In addition to monitoring the lake's bird communities year around, we will conduct environmental education for surrounding villages, attract nature tourists to benefit the villagers, promote the lake with a festival, calendars, posters, leaflets, scientific and popular articles published nationally and internationally.