Journal of Environmental Biology

Stakeholder participation to watershed management: A case study

from Beysehir Lake Basin

Fadim Yavuz¹* and T?zin Baycan²

¹Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, 42090, Turkey

²Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Architecture, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, 34437, Turkey

*Corresponding Authors Email : fadimyavuz@konya.edu.tr

 Publication Data

Paper received:

14 July 2013

Revised received:

20 October 2013

Re-revised received:

18 June 2014

Accepted:

22 September 2014

Abstract

This study addresses Beyşehir Lake Basin, which is the largest freshwater lake in Turkey. The aim of the study was to explore the knowledge, perceptions and behaviors of local communities regarding; the critical problems of the basin; technical and political situation of the water management in the basin; possible strategies ensuring positive change towards the sustainability of the basin; and the watershed management strategies which could contribute to success in this case. The participatory level of the local water users of the basin was also examined. The results revealed that local communities were? aware? of? the? basin's? problems? and? contribution? of? the? participatory approaches to watershed management. Also, collaboration between the public and public institutions was accepted as key to successful watershed management. The stakeholders, who considered? that? current? water? policies to? solve? the? problems? of? the? basin were ineffectual, relied on the local environmental groups more than central government and local authorities regarding their water policies. ? 

 Key words

Beyşehir Lake Basin, Local community, Stakeholder participation, Watershed management

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