Posted on 11 September
2009
Istanbul, Turkey – Recent flooding in parts
of Turkey has underscored the need to focus
on ecologically-sound flood management practices
to shield urban areas from extreme weather
events, particularly those caused by climate
change.
“The presence of deadly
floods right in the heart of Istanbul first
of all points at the insufficient infrastructure
of the city,” said Dr. Filiz Demirayak,
the CEO of WWF-Turkey. “Unregulated urban
development and infrastructure have become
barriers preventing rain water to reach
the sea via its natural path.”
Turkey’s Thracian region
and the capital Istanbul this week received
a month’s worth of rainfall during two days
-- or four times the total amount of average
precipitation for this entire month -- causing
massive flooding that led to the death of
30 people and widespread damage estimated
at US $90 million dollars. Turkey's Meteorology
Institute recorded 13.2 centimetres of rain
fell in the area.
This week’s floods follow
flash floods in July that killed at least
six people in the north-eastern province
of Artvin, and inundated more than 100 homes
and businesses in the Black Sea province
of Giresun.
"We are deeply
saddened by the loss of life because of
these floods and our thoughts are with the
victim's families," said Demirayak.
Flooding occurred mostly
because natural irrigation channels had
been damaged and unplanned developments
blocked the rain water from dissipating
into the sea, WWF said.
“The insufficiency of
water absorbing green areas and forests
in the heart of the city is another factor
that blocks water in the midst of concrete,”
Demirayak said. “In the periphery of Istanbul
and Tekirdag river beds have been narrowed
down, filled up by residential and industrial
areas, thus blocking natural flood control
mechanisms. The local municipalities and
the government need to resolve the infrastructural
problems of the city and prepare climate
adaptation plan immediately.”
WWF warns that weather-related
problems such as floods could worsen because
of climate change unless ecological flood
prevention techniques are adopted. These
consist of river delta conservation and
forest conservation. In addition, urban
settlements along river beds must be closely
monitored.
“Ecological flood management
is the safest and most cost-effective solution,”
said Dr. Demirayak. “If future damage is
to be prevented, the climate change adaptation
process has to start immediately.”
“The current infrastructure
in Turkey cannot handle the consequences
of climate change. WWF-Turkey calls upon
the government and the municipalities to
take immediate action for adaptation to
climate change.”
+ More
First Russian fishery
certified as Sustainable
Posted on 10 September
2009
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) announced
today that it has awarded certification
to a pink and chum salmon fishery on the
Kuril Island of Iturup managed by the Russian
Government and Gidrostroy, a joint stock
company which owns and manages the fishing,
processing, and transport operations. The
MSC certification program recognizes and
rewards sustainable fishing and promotes
the best environmental choices in seafood.
“Among major Russian
fishing companies, Gidrostroy is the first
and, to this day, the only company that
has been awarded the Marine Stewardship
Council certification,” says Sergei Didenko
from the Sakhalin Salmon Initiative Center.
“Gidrostroy’s commitment to sustainable
fisheries is a turning point for the fisheries
sector and a sign that sustainability has
arrived in Russia.”
“Gidrostroy joins a
growing list of seafood companies who understand
that the long-term supply of salmon and
other seafood depends on effective management
and conservation,” said Brian Caouette of
the Wild Salmon Center, whose mission is
to conserve wild salmon across the Pacific
Rim. “As demand for sustainable seafood
increases, fishing companies that implement
best practices stand to benefit economically.
“
Like certain salmon
fisheries in Alaska, the Iturup Island fishery
has committed to implement a number of management
changes as part of the MSC process. Changes
include taking steps to minimize the potential
impact of hatcheries on wild salmon populations—
hatchery salmon can place wild salmon populations
at risk in several ways including mixing
of hatchery and wild stocks, ecosystem and
genetic impacts, and disease transfer.
“We hope that the MSC
certification will help companies continue
to catch salmon successfully for many years
and gain new markets, without undermining
the stocks and minimizing damage to ecosystems,”
said Konstantin Zgurovsky, Head of the WWF’s
Marine Program.
A coalition of NGOs,
including the Wild Salmon Center, WWF, Sakhalin
Salmon Initiative Center, and Sustainable
Fisheries Partnership hope that that certification
of the first fishery in Russia will draw
the government’s attention toward resolving
some of the obstacles for effective management
of salmon fisheries in Russia.
