analysis-and-reports

New Lakes Region: West Black Sea

There used to be disasters, but once every 20 years. Now it happens every year. There is even a threat several times a year. Just as the earthquake disaster in the Southeastern Region is dealt with as a disaster affecting public life, the same methods should be put into action for the flood disaster in the Northwest Region (which is occurring in this sequence).

WESTERN BLACK SEA FLOOD DISASTER 3.0

For three years (2021-2022-2023) the Western Black Sea has been subjected to floods.

Summer again.

Flood Disaster again.

Again the Western Black Sea.

First of all, the definition of "Western Black Sea Flood Disaster" was used to refer to the floods, inundations and landslides caused by excessive rainfall in the Western Black Sea region of the Black Sea Region on August 11, 2021. The floods mostly affected Kastamonu, Sinop and Bartın provinces and hundreds of people in the region lost their lives, were injured or disappeared.

Officials have stated unequivocally that the floods in the Western Black Sea region were one of the most significant floods in the history of the Republic of Turkey.

Even before the wounds were healed, on June 27, 2022, the people and the region affected by the flood disaster in the Western Black Sea Region were included in this definition. In 2022, the Western Black Sea Flood Disaster occurred for the second time.

"The flood swallowed the Western Black Sea" was one of the headlines used for the June 8-9, 2023 Western Black Sea Flood Disaster.

WESTERN BLACK SEA SHOULD BE DECLARED A DISASTER AREA

Düzce, Bolu, Karabük, Zonguldak, Bartın, Bartın, Kastamonu, Sinop, Samsun and Ordu provinces were negatively affected by heavy rainfall.

This means the basin of the provinces located in the western part of the Melet Stream, where the Western Black Sea Climate begins, which affects the Western Black Sea Basin.

During our recent trip to the region, different individuals and institutions said that "if the region had been declared a disaster zone, everything would have been over by now."

Global warming has shown its effect.

The forested structure of the region attracts precipitation.

There used to be disasters in the past, but once every 20 years.

Now it happens every year. There are even threats several times a year.

Just as solutions are produced for the earthquake disaster in the Southeastern Region within the scope of disasters affecting public life, the same methods should be put into action for the flood disaster in the Northwest Region (which is experienced in this sequence).

A master plan should be prepared for the Western Black Sea Basin to be declared a disaster area.

IS THERE NO OTHER POSSIBILITY!

My predecessor from the Harvard senior executive training program, my friend for a quarter of a century, my colleague when I was the district governor of Çamoluk in Giresun, and a man of heart, Mr. İsmail Belen, whom we tried to contribute to the future of Turkey in non-governmental organizations. I came across an article by İsmail Belen on social media.

It was a search.

"Is there no other possibility!" and was looking for a solution for the Western Black Sea Flood Disaster.

İsmail Belen, Vice President of the United Nations Forest Forum, is a well-educated bureaucrat.

He has served as the Minister's Chief of Staff, as Vice President of the FAO Mediterranean Forestry Problems Committee, as an engineer in the Ministry of Forestry, as a branch manager, department head, General Directorate for Combating Desertification and Erosion and Deputy General Directorate of General Directorate of Forestry.

He actively participates in civil society activities.

He is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the "Association of Those Who Care about the Future" and the "International Nature Forest Civil Society Platform - DOST Platform". He is also the Foreign Relations Advisor of the Chamber of Forest Engineers, "Green Turkey Foresters Association", Chairman of the "Foundation for Assistance to the Members of the General Directorate of Forestry and the Board of Representatives" and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Turkish World Parliamentarians Foundation.

When he says, "I try to contribute as much as I can, even if it is a drop in the sea", he also states what he contributed to and where he had problems:

"After the 2008 Taşağıl fires, I contributed to the "YARDOP - Restoration of Burned Areas and Establishment of Fire Resistant Forests Project" implemented by the General Directorate of Forestry. I tried to put "making the forest ready" on the basis of fire fighting. I wish the project had been strengthened and continued.

For some reason, every person who takes office in the public sector may have an approach like "I found it, I did it, life started with me". Previous ones can be neglected. Maybe I don't know if I have it too!"

"After the floods in the Black Sea in 2019, I supported the "Bolaman and Çekerek Hazvas Rehabilitation Projects" and the "National Basin Rehabilitation Strategy". After the forest fires in 2021, I contributed to the development of the IDOP - Climate Resilient Forestry Project."

He makes a very important and sensitive observation:

"Are we going to face the same scenery every time it rains, make the same news, wish mercy to those who are gone and healing to those who remain, and continue on our way?"

And asks:

"Don't we have a chance to produce solutions by taking the necessary lessons and measures?"

And he answers:

"Absolutely."

FLOOD IS A PREDICTABLE AND PREVENTABLE DISASTER

Floods and their damages are routine and can only be prevented through reason, through measures that do not require imprevision.

"Floods, floods and forest fires are predictable and preventable disasters. As long as we follow the terrain, geography and science."

Just like forest fires, risk management is important for floods.

"If we do not make the necessary preparations in forests in advance, take silvicultural measures, thin and manage them in accordance with the technique, no matter what we do, we cannot easily extinguish fires."

"There is a very close link between floods and fires. And the frequency and impact of both will increase. The climate is changing, even though the Black Sea is struggling with rains, temperatures are increasing. Sudden precipitation is already a result of this increase."

Preventive measures should be planned at basin and regional scales.

"After a disaster occurs, both our state and our nation do their best. I personally saw this in the earthquake region. On this occasion, I congratulate AFAD and our institutions. But as important as the aftermath, even more so, is the before."

One of his suggestions is that foresters should be more involved in AFAD.

"After the Twin Tower attacks in 2001, foresters played a major role in disaster management in the USA. It is difficult to find real solutions unless we go to the root of the problem, to technical measures."

CALL TO STAKEHOLDERS IN THE FIELD

The call to the central administration, local governments, media and NGOs is also important. "We all have a serious responsibility in directing the country's resources to the right places and revealing the real problems." "Of course, responsible community leaders, the media and mayors have a serious job to do here."

"How about Mr. Beytullah Geçtan Yakup Yılmaz Sabri Avcı Gökhan Gül, Murat Doğan Ahmet Erdem Selahattin Ateş Ahmet Türe Fikri Uludağ İbrahim Ergüven Salih Demirel Dr. Şenel Yediyıldız Ercan Kaptanoğlu Ufuk Güley"

Let us respond to this beautiful call as the Western Black Sea Equal Opportunity Association: BAKFED is ready.

NEW LAKES REGION: WEST BLACK SEA

Exactly one year ago, as the President of the Western Black Sea Equal Opportunity Association (BAKFED), I said the following from the rostrum in the disaster zone: "The Western Black Sea will either become a 'Lake Region' or remain a 'Flood Region'."

Mr. İsmail Belen, President of the SEND, says similar things as an expert.

"The important thing is not to take the bullet out of the chamber, to control the water not where it overflows, but where it falls on the ground." "If we fail to control the water where it falls into the soil, if we fail to "use the water", the water, which is expressed as "mercy" in the lore of our people, will appear as "disaster". Just like the bullet in the chamber." "Each province, each district, even each village should develop its own disaster plans with its own people and means."

"In our country, we have trained people, we have people with problems, we have great institutions, but our biggest shortcoming is cooperation and coordination."

"If we build 5,000 ecosystem ponds in the Black Sea plateaus, we can keep the water at the beginning of the basin without flowing, support groundwater, improve animal husbandry and biodiversity in the plateaus."

The easiest and most effective way to do this is to put the issue on our agenda.

For this, our two esteemed ministers in decision-making positions have a lot of work to do.

Our Minister of Justice from the Western Black Sea Mr. Yılmaz Tunç's promising tweet dated August 13, 2021: "I don't even want to think about the dire situation that Bartın city center would be exposed to today if it were not for the 4 dams we built in Bartın: Kirazlıköprü Dam, Kozcağız Dam, Kışla Dam, Eldeş Dam"

And the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr. İbrahim Yumaklı, our other minister from the Western Black Sea region. İbrahim Yumaklı also revealed his determination in his statement in Düzce on July 10, 2023:

"Let our country never face such disasters again. We have already come a long way in keeping the effects of climate change in the corner of our minds and taking our measures without delay. I would like to complete the rest of the work and remove this from the agenda of our country."

If we build 5 thousand ecosystem ponds in the Black Sea plateaus, the Flood Zone will become the Lake Zone.

We would keep the water at the beginning of the basin without letting it flow, we would support groundwater, we would improve animal husbandry, fisheries and biodiversity in the highlands.

We would also gain a tourism region more spectacular than Switzerland.

The clean drinking water that will be provided to our country will also create resistance against global warming and a precaution against drought.

Reverse migration starts from the obese Marmara region.

The Western Black Sea becomes richer.

Istanbul and Marmara will become healthy.

Let's see if the "Flood Region" will become the "Lake Region".

"Mercy" or "disaster" will be preferred...