Demre Kus Cenneti - Turkey

>>>Demre Kus Cenneti

Name	Kus Cenneti
Place	Demre, Antalya Province
Country	Turkey
Author(s)	Ferhat Türkoglu
World Heritage	if applicable,enter the year of listing


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Why is this case relevant?

the place which is called 'Kus Cenneti' is a nature reserve since ancient times. Hidden in the southwest of turkey the paradise for birds is a part of the city Demre. The area itself belongs to the Antalya region and is one of the oldest parts of the country, right next to the mediterranian sea. The undoubting beauty of the area with its breathtaking landscape is also called the turkish riviera. The cultural background is as big as the story of the ancient greek itself. The greek citizens were watching, listening and made paintings of the birds settling in this paradise. The most fascinating fact is that this place is artificial. Ancient gardeners used the flood to provide a good irrigation. Over hundreds of years this place fused with the surroundings but never changed its shape. The turkish government even stopped the urban sprawl which was threatening this area and values now the heritage. Tourists are tolerated due to laws. They have a bride view but not an entrance to the bird paradise of Demre.

The area is separated into a big lake, swamps and humid wetlands in the south and arid landscapes, riverscapes in the north. Everything summed up in 100 ha. Different plants are providing a wide range of birds. From big storks to little parakeets in the most beautiful colours the nature can offer us. Hidden spots for breeding grounds are everywhere around this reserve to avoid any outside effects. You can say the artificial concept is based on an organic interpretation. Through the lack of maintenance human kind would lose an acces to the lives of over 149 local birds and hundred different kind of migratory birds fom northern europe. Demre Bird Paradise is a part of the nature itself and shall never be highlighted from its origin.

The challenges are basically the urban sprawl and the threat through tourists. The citizens of Demre are living through tourism. The coastline itself attracts thousands of them in the warmer seasons. So the area around the coast city is almost eight months a year in a stressed situation. Although being signed and well known the bird paradise is still threatend by ignorant and egoistic tourists, who can see the beauty of the natural habitat of birds coming from everywhere of Europe, but still disturb their lives intentionally. There is no access for citizens and outsiders, just for park rangers. But that doesn’t stop ignorant people to enter the area and make pictures with flashlights. The government stopped the growing of Demre to southwest where the bird paradise is through a law. Unfortunately a lot of areas are still in private hand. So the threat by planned and built big hotels or apartment buildings is still present. The only opportunity i see for this place is a strong seperation. The city of Demre has to write out certain areas for living and building. Landscape has to be protected by any matter. In the end the only strong factor here are the citizens. They have to understand what they are going to lose.

Merging the artificial habitat with the surroundings through hundreds of years the nature is basically doing the main work. What i suggest is a stronger maintenance and a strict ban for tourists and citizens. From every direction you have a great view on the bird paradise. There is no need for accessability. Through channeling the water in this former flood area unfortunately the land gets more arid the longer time passes by. The connection between the sea and the natural heritage is interrupted. It has to be connected again. Through an open space or a landscape plan the place should be anaylized and the connection should be recreated. It would improve the growth of plants and the density of their territory. To use the ancient greeks plans and ideals as a role model i would let the nature do the rest and merge with the developed bird paradise through the years once again.