As the 31 March 2024 Local Elections approach, the Izmir Gulf Passage project, whose EIA Positive Decision was canceled in 2018, started to come to the agenda again as a promise in the election campaigns. Warnings have begun to come from non-governmental organizations against this project, which will cause destruction in the Gulf along with Izmir's Bird Sanctuary Gediz Delta.
One of the Mayoral Candidates of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, Atty. The project, which came to the agenda again among Hamza Dağ's election promises, threatens the feeding and breeding areas of hundreds of bird species and wild animals, including flamingos, one of the symbols of Izmir.
Gediz Delta, one of the 14 Wetlands of International Importance (RAMSAR) in Turkey, offers a safe living environment for water birds.
Gediz Delta meets the criteria for a Wetland of International Importance thanks to its biodiversity and ecosystem value. At the same time, the delta also meets the Important Natural Area criteria, which are shown as priority conservation areas by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The delta is home to 10 percent of the world's population of flamingos. It is one of the five areas in Turkey where the endangered Dalmatian pelican breeds regularly. It is home to 5 percent of the world's population of the Dalmatian pelican and the third largest breeding colony in the entire Mediterranean with the breeding population of the tern. Thanks to the climate zone in which it is located, it has Mediterranean vegetation characteristics with 3 plant species. The delta offers habitat for 462 medium and large mammal species, 8 reptiles, 28 amphibians and 7 fish species. It is one of the rare areas where Mediterranean monk seal and loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) live together. Approximately one third of the salt production in Turkey takes place in salt pans in the delta.
In 2018, the EIA Positive Decision of the project in question was canceled as a result of the negative evaluation of the official expert committee appointed by the Izmir Administrative Court, on the grounds that the Gediz Delta would be under great threat and the birds and natural life in the bay would be harmed.
The area where the bridge piers will be located in the Gulf Crossing Project plan is protected by the natural protected area borders of the Gediz Delta. At the same time, this area is classified as a Sensitive Protection Area under the Wetland Protection Regulation. Despite all these protection limits, it was requested that these two protection limit degrees be reduced for the implementation of the project, and the legislation was aimed to be suitable for the bridge project. Research studies, such as mid-winter waterfowl counts conducted continuously in the region, reveal that the area where the bridge is planned to be built is one of the most important feeding areas of flamingos in the world. Ten thousand or more flamingos regularly feed in this area. The construction of the bridge will destroy the habitat of many species, especially flamingos.
It is not possible to carry out the Gulf Crossing Project without damaging the habitats of wild animals in the Gediz Delta, such as flamingos. This project will increase the urbanization pressure from Mavişehir to the inner parts of the delta. In the election promises, we expect projects that do not threaten the biodiversity, ecosystems, traditional and rural productions and the bay in Izmir. “Producing projects that are compatible with nature and Izmir is not as difficult as it seems.” said.
