Sumela, Black Sea Mts., Turkey Photograph by Pedro Regato/ WWF MedPO   Western Asia: Northern Turkey, extending along the southern Black Sea region Temperate Coniferous Forests   39,100 square miles (101,300 square kilometers) -- about the size of Virginia Critical/Endangered

· Turkish Delight
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
More Photos

Turkish Delight

From wolves to woodpeckers, the diverse wildlife of the Northern Anatolian Conifer and Deciduous Forests ecoregion makes this one of the most important areas for nature conservation in Turkey. Birds migrate from both Asia and Europe to find shelter here in forests of pine, hornbeam, sweet chestnut, alder, and beech trees. Numerous types of ferns and herbs are among the 2,400 species of plants known to occur in this region. What’s more, freshwater lakes and wetlands throughout the region are teeming with waterfowl and wading birds such as herons and egrets.

Special Features

The mountainous terrain of this ecoregion has high plateaus and deep valleys, with many rivers draining to the Black Sea. The area has historically been an important meeting place and corridor for the movement of animal species between Europe and Asia. Asian animal types predominate and once included leopards and lions. Today, mostly smaller mammals thrive here. This ecoregion is classified as an "Important Bird Area" by Birdlife International because it provides critical habitat for the Dalmatian pelican, purple heron, and black stork.

	The cherry, hazelnut, and sweet chestnut trees that grow in this ecoregion are important food sources for many animals as well as local peoples.

Wild Side

Every spring, butterflies emerge from their cocoons and take flight among the pine trees of the Northern Anatolian Conifer and Deciduous Forests. Cherry, hazelnut, and sweet chestnut trees are visited by many animals in search of the trees’ nutritious fruits. Egyptian vultures and booted eagles patrol the skies high above the mountains, while an unsuspecting rodent succumbs to a viper in the leaf litter. Wolves, wild dogs, and Asiatic lions once roamed these forests in search of prey such as deer and chamois. Wild boars grunt quietly as they dig into the ground with their snouts, unearthing roots and tubers. On rugged mountain slopes, mountain goats called Turkish chamois nibble on tender grasses and shoots. Freshwater lakes and wetlands throughout this ecoregion are filled with birds such as the red-crested pochard, coot, night heron, and little egret. Here, too, Eurasian beavers construct their elaborate lodges and dams.

Cause for Concern

All of the wetlands in this ecoregion are threatened by irrigation, conversion to agriculture, and pollution. Other threats include logging, road construction, and the illegal export of wild plant bulbs and other plant and animal species.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.