The project is one of the pioneering initiatives in Türkiye’s Gediz Catchment, aiming to identify and assess artificial barriers to restore river connectivity, protect biodiversity, and support sustainable livelihoods through scientific research, community engagement, and policy advocacy.
The Gediz Catchment, the designated project area, spans approximately 17,500 km², encompassing the provinces of Manisa, İzmir, Uşak, and Kütahya in western Türkiye.
As one of the nation’s most significant hydrological and economic basins, it plays a critical role in regional sustainability. A multitude of stream systems – both major and minor – converge within the basin to feed the 401 km-long Gediz River. As Türkiye’s second-largest river system discharging into the Aegean Sea, the Gediz River constitutes the central axis of the basin. Meandering through a mosaic of landscapes and deeply incised valleys, the river unites numerous tributaries, underpinning the region’s agricultural productivity and ecological richness.
| Project status | Live |
|---|---|
| Project type | Barrier identification and prioritisation |
| Country | Türkiye |
| River | Gediz |
| Focal species | Knipowitschia mermere, Capoeta bergamae, Lutra lutra |
| Organisation | Doğa Derneği |
| Website | dogadernegi.org |
Despite being one of Türkiye’s most vital and expansive catchments, the Gediz River system is experiencing profound ecological degradation, largely driven by artificial barriers. These structures severely disrupt the river’s natural hydrological dynamics, leading to habitat fragmentation, declining water quality, and the collapse of ecological connectivity. The region is experiencing alarming biodiversity loss, particularly among endemic fish species, migratory birds, and mammals, and these threats are also affecting the livelihoods of local communities.
In response to these challenges, the Gediz River Basin Management Plan was established as a multi-stakeholder initiative aimed at safeguarding the basin’s ecological integrity and ensuring its sustainable use. As an active member of this platform, Doğa Derneği contributes scientific expertise and field-based knowledge to guide restoration efforts. The integration of robust scientific data into this planning process is essential for enabling future actions, including the reestablishment of free-flowing river systems that support both biodiversity and human resilience.
The project aims to identify and prioritise artificial barriers across the Gediz Catchment in western Türkiye to support future river restoration efforts. By combining scientific research, stakeholder engagement, and policy advocacy, the project will lay the groundwork for the systematic removal of dams, weirs, and other flow-restricting structures. Key goals include:
Mapping and analysing physical barriers
Evaluating their ecological and socio-economic impacts
Raising public awareness of the Gediz River’s biodiversity
Advocating for policy reforms to support free-flowing river systems
Expected outcomes include a comprehensive barrier inventory, data-driven assessments of their effects on biodiversity and livelihoods, and increased public and political support for ecological restoration.
In summary, the project will scientifically identify and assess barriers in the Gediz Catchment, highlighting their impacts on biodiversity and local ecosystems. Through capacity building, public outreach, and strategic policy advocacy, it aims to mobilise decision-makers toward barrier removal and long-term river restoration.
Funded by
