Şahika Ercümen, holder of the world record in free-diving and UNDP Türkiye’s Life Below Water Advocate, made a dive in the Mediterranean Sea on 2 December 2022 to raise awareness about the threat that water pollution poses to maritime ecosystems. UNDP organized the event at the Cape of Hırlavuk near Samandağ in Hatay Province to emphasize the importance of local action and community solidarity in solving challenges such as plastic waste, pollution and the climate crisis.

Turkish Diving Star Joins UNDP to Fight Water Pollution | Devamı>>>

With US$1.8 million in funding from Japan, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a new project aimed at protecting the delicate marine ecosystem in Hatay Province in Turkey’s South. “Climate Action for Hatay” combines three aims: first, to remove waste from the Asi River as it drains into the Mediterranean at the city of Samandağ; second, to reduce waste dumping into the river through improved regulations and public education; and third, to counter the threats posed by the proliferation of the water hyacinth, an invasive species that clogs rivers, hurts water quality and threatens the local fishing economy.

New UNDP Project to Fight Pollution of Asi River in Turkey | Devamı>>>