ICLEI extends a warm welcome to one of its newest members, Çiğli (Turkey).

Located in the north of İzmir metropolitan city, Çiğli is one of the biggest districts of İzmir with an area of 133 km2. Çiğli is an exclusive metropolitan district of İzmir, which strives to maintain the balance between nature conservation and development. With its famous Gediz Delta & İzmir Bird Paradise, Çiğli appeals to nature lovers.

The Gediz Delta is home to numerous species of birds and plants and is a natural protection area, designated as Ramsar Site in 1998. The İzmir Bird Paradise, is home to 289 bird species and ranges 80 km2 in area. More than 50 thousand birds stop by annually during migration season. The Gediz Delta is among two important breeding sites of the flamingos in Turkey. The visitor center offers information for various services such as bird observation towers, binoculars and touring bikes at the Bird Paradise.
Çamaltı Salt Marsh, established 150 years ago, has an industrial history. The marsh holds salt production ponds and facilities. It is the biggest sea salt area of Turkey, contributing a significant amount of Turkey's salt needs, with an average annual production of 600.000 tons.Çiğli takes great pride in its conservation history.

ICLEI Mayor, Utku GÜMRÜKÇÜ remarks on the City’s sustainability goals,“We should inherit this legacy to future generations. Our long term goals are within the scope of natural conservation, resilience, adaptation and mitigation for climate change, renewable energy, green infrastructure, sustainable transportation and circular economy. We want to make regional and international connections and collaborate with potential partners and mentors for providing urban sustainability strategies, climate change scenarios and resilient urban development by joining the ICLEI network.”

To keep up to date with Çiğli’s work follow @ciglibelediyesi and visit here.