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Flora and fauna rich Akdağ Nature Park, which is home to endangered species, has been declared as Turkey's 49th national park.
The area, located within the borders of Çivril district of Denizli and Sandıklı district of Afyonkarahisar, with an area of 14,692 hectares, was designated as "Akdağ Nature Park" on June 29, 2000, with the approval of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, due to its natural and cultural values.
The Nature Park has gained national park status with the Presidential Decree published in the Official Gazette today. Thus, the area becomes Turkey's 49th national park under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, and the size of the area is increased to 15,933 hectares.
Since the declaration of the nature park, active nature conservation activities have been carried out in the region. As a result, the wildlife, population and species diversity in the area have significantly increased, and habitats for species have shown positive developments. Additionally, recent ecosystem monitoring studies have revealed that natural processes in the area, which has been kept away from human impact, are progressing in a healthy manner.
A healthy chain has been developed among mammals, predators, and scavengers in the habitats of the red deer, which is a valuable resource in the area. Compared to 20 years ago, the number of red deer, wild boar, fox, and wolf species seen in the national park area has significantly increased. It has been determined that the Tokalı Canyon, which is one of the most remote areas from human traffic within the park boundaries, is home to 4 species of vultures living in Turkey: Egyptian vulture, griffon vulture, bearded vulture, and lesser spotted eagle.
Another valuable resource of the national park is the old black pine forests that continue to exist along the Fındıklıdere and Karanlıkdere valleys in the Tokalı Canyon. This area is the strongest support for wildlife in Denizli and Afyonkarahisar and is located in a forest ecosystem. Additionally, Kurtini cave in Karanlıkdere Valley adds a separate value to the area with its stalactites formed by its existing karstic rock structure.
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı, pointed out that they have conducted important studies aiming to increase the number of national parks in the country, emphasizing the importance of the characteristics that the region possesses. Yumaklı stated that Akdağ National Park contains a great richness in terms of flora and fauna. He also mentioned that the area is a park with high visitor potential due to its endangered species, natural structure, cultural values, and existing resources such as geological, geomorphological, and hydrogeological values in areas such as canyons, caves, rocky areas, mountains, rivers, and lakes.
Yumaklı expressed that the area, which stands out with its visitor potential, will be more effectively protected with the declaration of national park status. He wished Akdağ National Park, which has been declared as Turkey's 49th national park, to be beneficial for Denizli and Afyonkarahisar.
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