Impact of Sustainable Agricultural Practices Compared to Conventional Agriculture on the Basin and Ecosystem of Lake Egirdir

This project is based on 25 years of research and ongoing field studies conducted in the Lake Egirdir basin. Lake Egirdir, the second-largest freshwater lake in Turkiye, has been under increasing threat of ecological collapse in recent years due to a combination of challenges in maintaining the balance between conservation and utilization, as well as the growing impact of climate change. The declining water level of the lake has led to a significant reduction in water volume, which in turn has increased the concentration and ecological impact of pollutants in both the water column and bottom sediments. This process has severely compromised the ecological integrity of the lake. In order to ensure the recovery and sustainability of the lake, it is first and foremost, necessary to maintain the critical minimum water level and prevent further decline. In parallel, a transition from conventional to sustainable agricultural practices in the surrounding areas is considered essential not only for the restoration of the lake’s internal ecosystem but also for the overall ecological resilience and sustainability of the entire basin.