This study is about the current status of nationally important wetlands in Sivas province. As a result of the study, it was determined that there are two nationally important wetlands in Sivas province. These are Tödürge Lake and Ulaş Lake are nationally important wetlands. Tödürge Lake and Ulaş Lake wetlands in Sivas are usually covered with a thick snow cover in winter. An intense bird activity begins in the spring. Many bird species prefer Tödürge Lake and Ulaş Lake wetlands to perform their breeding, resting, feeding and daily displacement activities. The wetland area of national importance in Sivas is 12334 hectares. Wetlands of national importance constitute 0.45 percent of Sivas province's surface area. Considering that the nationally important wetlands in Turkey are 1.12% of the total surface area, it has been determined that the size of the nationally important wetlands throughout the province of Sivas is insufficient. Wetlands are habitats at the lowest point of the basin in which they are located. Therefore, it is affected by all activities in the basin. In order to minimize these effects, rational and efficient use of Tödürge Lake and Ulaş Lake nationally important wetlands in Sivas province should be ensured.

Keywords: Nationally important wetlands, Sivas, Turkey.

[1] Ilgar, R. (2021). Wetlands of the Çanakkale province. Journal of Strategic and Social Research, 5(3): 613-629. doi: 10.30692/sisad.937951.

[2] Kerstetter, D.L, Hou, J.S., Lin, C.H. (2004). Profiling Taiwanese ecotourists using a behavioral approach. Tourism Management, 25(4): 491-498.

[3] Kaplan, A., (2002). Approach to wetland management in the context of landscape: the example of İzmir Bird Sanctuary and its environment. Coastal and Marine Areas of Turkey, IV. Proceedings of the National Conference, Pages 239-249.

[4] Korkanc, S.Y. (2004). The role of wetlands in watershed system. Journal of Bartin Faculty of Forestry, 6(6): 117-126.

[5] Cirik, S. (1993). Wetlands. Ecology Journal, 7: 50-51.

[6] Leon, J.R., Fujibayashi, M., Petilla, F.M., Yumul, B.I., Mendoza-Pascual, M.U., Papa, R.D., Okuda, N. (2022). Identification of aquatic consumer trophic pathways in four volcanic tropical lakes using fatty acid biomarkers. Journal of Limnology, 81: 2070. doi: 10.4081/jlimnol.2021.2070.

[7] Güngör, S. (2013). A lost wetland: the story of Kahramanmaraş Gavur Lake. Turkish Journal of Administration, 477: 303-320.

[8] Sezen, J. (2017). The importance of environmental awareness towards areas protected in the World and Turkey. Journal of International Scientific Researches, 2(2): 165-177. doi: 10.21733/ibad.2116.

[9] Dirican, S. (2017). Future aquaculture trends of Sivas in the Central Anatolia of Turkey. International Journal of Innovative Studies in Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 3(2): 1-4. doi: 10.20431/2454-7670.0302001.

[10] SPEP (2021). Sivas province 2020 environmental report. Republic of Turkey Sivas Governorship Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Branch Directorate of Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Permits, Sivas, Turkey, Pages 188.

[11] Karabulut, M. (2020). Drought analysis for Sivas province using standardized precipitation index. Journal of International Social Research, 13(71): 216-230.

[12] Türkeş M., Altan, G. (2011). Investigation of the Lake Tödürge wetland (Sivas) district in terms of hydroclimatology and climate variations. II. Turkey Wetlands Congress, Kırşehir, Turkey, Pages 86-95.

[13] Ergün, A. (2008). Environmental problems related to urbanization and industrialization in the city of Sivas. Selçuk University Social Sciences Institute Secondary Education Social Field Education Department Geography Teacher Department, Master Thesis, Konya, Turkey, Pages 89.

[14] Yıldırım, M. (2006). Seasonal variation of ecto and endo parasites in population of Chalcalburnus chalcoides from Lake Tödürge (Zara-Sivas). Cumhuriyet Üniversity Graduate School of Natural and Applied Science, Department of Biolog, Master Thesis, Sivas, Turkey, Pages 87.

[15] TWPCR, (2008). Turkish water pollution control regulation. Ministry of Environment and Forest, The Republic of Turkey Official Journal No: 26786, Pages 1-76.

[16] Yazıcı, H., Şahin, İ.F. (1999). Geographical observations in Demiryurt (Tödürge-Sivas) wetland and its surroundings. Turkish Journal of Geography, 34: 19-30.

[17] Eken, G., Bozdoğan, M., İsfendiyaroğlu, S., Kılıç, D.T., Lise Y. (2006). Important natural areas of Turkey. Nature Association, Ankara, Turkey, Pages 126-127.

[18] URL-1 (2022). Wetlands, https://www.tarimorman.gov.tr/DKMP/Menu/31/Sulak-Aanlar, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks (Access Date: 10.10.2022).

[19] Semiz, G.D., Polat, H.E., Anlı, A.S. (2011). Wetlands under the effect of rural area activities: scientific and technical measures envisioned to be taken. II. Turkey Wetlands Congress, 22-24 June 2011, Kırşehir, Turkey, Pages 238-246.

[20] Arı, Y. (2006). A critical view of the nature conservation approach of the Ramsar Convention. Journal of Eastern Geography, 11(15): 275-302.

[21] Kuvetli, E., Kadıoğlu, Y. (2022). An evaluation of local people's perception of protected areas: sample of Samsun. International Journal of Management Academy, 5(2): 352-364. doi: 10.33712/mana.1120544.

[22] Polat, Z., Deniz, B., Kılıçarslan, Ç., Kara, B. (2011). A recreational perspective on wetlands in Aydın province. II. Turkey Wetlands Congress, Kırşehir, Turkey, Pages 149-155.

[23] Sülük, K., Nural, S., Tosun, İ. (2013). Evaluation of the people's environmental awareness in wetlands: a case study of Işıklı Lake. European Journal of Science and Technology, 1(1): 7-11.

Source of Funding:

This study did not receive any grant from funding agencies in the public or not-for-profit sectors.

Competing Interests Statement:

Author has declared no competing interests.

Consent for publication:

The author declares that he/she consented to the publication of this research work.

Acknowledgements:

The author would like to thank the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Turkey for their help in information sharing and data access.