"World Water Day" - Biological Diversity Event at Yarışlı Lake

Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ) Wildlife Conservation, Rehabilitation Application and Research Center organized a World Water Day event in collaboration with the T.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry 6th Regional Directorate.

The event, held on Friday, March 22, 2024, at Burdur Yarışlı Lake with the theme "I Wonder How Many Species We Will See Here," was attended by 40 students from our Faculty of Biology and Veterinary Faculty, 6th Regional Directorate Hunting and Wildlife Branch Manager Tamer YILMAZ, Burdur Branch Directorate technical staff, and Mustafa ERTURHAN.

Center Director Dr. Lecturer Yasemin ÖZDEMİR stated that this event, organized to draw attention to the importance and sustainable use of water, also stands out as an ecosystem that meets vital needs such as drinking, feeding, reproduction, and migration of wildlife. Center Deputy Directors Dr. Lecturer Duygu Ceren ÇAĞLAN KAYA and Dr. Lecturer Harun ÇINAR provided information about the center's activities and goals and thanked the participating students.

Following the opening speeches, 6th Regional Directorate Hunting and Wildlife Branch Manager Tamer YILMAZ emphasized that water is an important part of ecosystems such as lakes, rivers, seas, and other water bodies, and that these ecosystems are critical for the conservation of biological diversity, provision of habitats, and delivery of ecosystem services. Sharing information about Yarışlı Lake in this context, YILMAZ provided details about the species living in the lake and shared the opportunity to closely observe species such as flamingos, avocets, and pochards with telescopes-binoculars with the students. Subsequently, Veterinary Faculty and Biology Department students participating in the event visited the prehistoric goat and deer motif rock paintings and the strong springs feeding Yarışlı Lake in the region.

In the final part, the students expressed their satisfaction with the event and exchanged ideas about future activities, conveying their requests.