The significant altitutes of the region are Western and Eastern Menteşe Mountains and Yaran Mountains. Small valleys opening directly to the sea and fertile agricultural lands formed by the alluvials are entitled with the name of Gökova and Kızılkaya Plains. Kanlı azmak and Kadın Azmağı are fresh water resources which brings in charactarization for the area. The climate of the region is Mediterranean. Summers are hot and arid, winters are warm and rainy. Thanks to breeze from sea formed by hot weather in summers, the hot weather is hardly ever felt. The flora of the area is Mediterranean maquis and olive grove. Moreover, there are (Pinus brutia) and (Liquidambar orientalis) in the region.
The endangering Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) and Sandbar Shark (Carcharinus plumbeus) species and rich marine fauna and river otters (Lutra lutra) living in absorbent ecosystems makes the fauna richer and more important. Gökova Bay is under protection both by the SPA status and natural and cultural SIT Status.
Within Gökova SEPA, Muğla Province, Ula and Marmaris districts and 3 towns and 4 villages are located. It is among the settlements of Akyaka, Gökova, Akçapınar, Gökçe, Çamlı, Karacaköy and Çetibeli. The length of the bay is 45 nautical miles from east to west. Gökova Bay SPA is composed of pristine coastal and marine habitats. Gökova Bay is one of the 305 Important Nature Areas identified in Türkiye. Moreover, due to its untouched coasts and clean sea, Gökova Bay is attractive both for local and foreign tourists.
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Social Structure
Akyaka population is 2198 according to the statistics of the year of 2000. In summer months with the coming of daily tourists the population reaches to 10.000-12.000. The fundamental economic activitiy is fishery, agriculture and tourism.
Why Gökova?
Altough Gökova Bay is under protection by EPASA, it does not have any management plan for sustainable conservation and human use. Therefore, the natural resources in this key biodiversity are under threat by antropologic human activities. Like other protection zones, within the borders of Gökova SEPA nature conservation, usage of natural resources, tourism, marine traffic, marine pollution, fishery, marine culture, agriculture, recreational activities, construction in coastal areas are all observed. Moreover, there is no applied Integrated Coastal and Marine management plan in the targeted Project area. The present Gökova Bay Integrated Coastal and Marine Management Planning Project aims to develop a sustainable socio-economic developmant together with conservation of endangering species and biological and marine diversity.
With the experience obtained by the conservation and research projects up to now, SAD-AFAG has aimed to complete the Project successfully. Gökova Integrated Coastal and Marine Management Plannig Project is nearly uniqe in Europe, too; so it will be a new template for the coastal management.
About Project
