A Turkish environmental activist has change into the primary from the nation to obtain a Goldman Environmental Award, also called “Green Nobel,” which is offered yearly by the Goldman Environmental Foundation.
The basis introduced its six environmental activists this 12 months on Monday, recognizing them for his or her efforts to guard land and communities, from Brazil to Türkiye to states within the U.S.
Zafer Kızılkaya, the chairperson of the board of the Mediterranean Conservation Association, obtained an award for his efforts to guard and monitor the ecosystem, with the guard system in particular environmental safety zones, particularly in Gökova, and his combat in opposition to poaching at sea.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Kızılkaya mentioned that this can be a very selective award given to tasks that deliver collectively many points from biodiversity to local weather, from meals security to securing the earnings of native communities.
“And this year I am being awarded on behalf of the Mediterranean Conservation Society. This gives me great pride,” mentioned Kızılkaya.
Talking about his actions concerning the safety of the setting, Kızılkaya mentioned that he had been engaged on protected areas within the Far East for about 10 years and returned to Türkiye in 2007.
Gökova Gulf
“We conducted research throughout the Mediterranean and discovered that Gökova (a long, narrow gulf) of the Aegean Sea between the Bodrum and Datça peninsulas in southwest Türkiye, is facing a biological war. Nothing was left under the water but a few fish,” Kzlkaya said.
Stating that areas off limits to fishing needed to be established within the nation, identical to it’s carried out across the globe, he defined: “Hence, we set out to develop a guard system for the protection of the declared areas, with the support of the Coast Guard Command and the Mediterranean Protection Association to prevent illegal fishing.”
“We have a team of 30 members: rangers, field managers and academics. We have bases in two different points in the gulfs of Gökova, Bozburun and Hisarönü where we monitor sand sharks and Mediterranean seals. Last year, we carried out underwater cleaning and removed about 15 tons of nets from old fish farms. In the following year in Fethiye Göcek, we launched a ranger protection system to count fish and measure ecosystem parameters. For now, we only are observing the underwater activities in Kaş Kekova, but we have plans to establish a protection system and office there in the coming years,” Kızılkaya defined.
He additionally knowledgeable that the coaching of the workers is refreshed each three months, and the groups are geared up with technological techniques that may assist them report all the pieces with particular software program.
“The main focus of our current work is to eliminate invasive species and to counter climate change, and to increase the immunity of the sea by increasing protected areas,” he added.
The Goldman Environment Award has been awarded yearly since 1989 by the Goldman Environmental Foundation, based by San Francisco philanthropists Richard and Rhoda Goldman. Award winners are chosen by a global jury from candidates nominated by a worldwide community of environmental organizations and consultants within the subject.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
