The Anatolian Underwater Research and Sports Association (ASAD) has launched innovative initiatives aimed at the rural development of the Lake Van Basin.
Speaking on the matter, ASAD Chairman of the Board Mehmet Salih Aygün stated that the Lake Van Basin has begun to be examined comprehensively (360 degrees) by scientist members of the association.
Emphasizing that the Lake Van Basin is a highly rich region in terms of natural, cultural, historical, underground, and surface resources, Aygün said:
“To transform these riches into tourism, the economy, and—most importantly—employment, we must work together with institutions, organizations, and civil society groups in our region. The pollution and environmental problems of Lake Van have remained on the public agenda in recent years. Efforts to address these issues are ongoing within the scope of the Lake Van Protection Action Plan, carried out under the auspices of the Presidency. However, it has become essential to approach the Lake Van Basin as a whole and to urgently initiate rural development. In this context, our association’s Project Coordinator—Strategy Planning Advisor and International Projects Specialist Gülay Karaoğlu—has begun work in this direction. These efforts will be shared with the public from time to time through the press.”
ASAD Project Coordinator Gülay Karaoğlu, who will oversee the coordination of the innovative activities to be carried out in the Lake Van Basin, also highlighted the importance of these initiatives for the region.
Stressing the need to implement sustainable mini-eco rural development projects, Karaoğlu stated:
“In our seas, lakes, rivers, and lands, we must redefine production and the values that feed our economy and shape our identity—within a framework of good governance—according to society’s needs, and implement them for the public benefit through strategic planning and a new development model. With the projects we will carry out, this is precisely what we aim to achieve.”
Deniz Haber Ajansı
