Wetland conservation within the framework of city planning

Abstract

Wetlands are natural resources that provide hwnans and other species, in other words the whole world, with a value and benefit. Nevertheless, wetlands were accepted as wortWess and unhealthy areas till their importance was understood, and were destroyed for agricultural production and to constitute industrial and urban development areas. Recently, as environmental consciousness increased, the importance of wetlands in the whole eco-system was understood and the protection of these areas speed up.Loss of wetlands mostly resulted from the unknown of their values and from paying insufficient attention to the effects of their activities. Approaches to the solution of these problems include analysis during the urban plan processes and to form protection policies and methodologies.The main aim of this thesis is to study the existing policies, protection approaches and the causes of these losses; to form the necessary studies during urban planning processes for effective protection, thus, contributing the development of wetlands protection planning.As a result, it was tried to develop some suggestions to prevent or decrease the effects of harmful activities and their further developments in the study area and to put forth the importance of Gediz. Delta.The usage of wetlands protection planning process, during the formation of necessary policies and works in preventing the loses of wetlands, which are under the pressure of urban development, will surely decrease the loses of wetlands.Key Words: Wetlands, Wetland Conservation, Integrated Wetland Management, Wetland Conservation Planning, Gediz Delta.