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Flora and Fauna in Muğla

In this region, the Mediterranean climate prevails. There is a potential for yachting tourism in the region as it has numerous coasts and coves. In this region you can see all types of the Mediterranean vegetation together and its red pines and forest area have a great value. The density of high quality forest cover increases on the northern shore of the Gulf of Gökova, on the slopes of Kıran Mountains. The Gökova region and the mountains around it, which have a high rainfall, have a rich range of flora. There are large numbers of animal species in the southern part of the Gulf of Gökova.

In the Fethiye region too, the vegetation is similar to maquis on the coastal zones, with pine trees (conifer) on the higher parts. The tree types in the upper regions are black pine (pinus nigra), red pine (pinus bruita) and cedars, while closer to the coast area there are shrubs, fields of olive trees, varieties of oak (quercus) and citrus fields. The most important endemic type in this region is the liquid amber orientalis forests.

In the Köyceğiz Special Protected Region, the most common vegetation is red pines (pinus bruita), liquid amber orientalis, maquis, small phrigana trees and shrubs. Moreover the plants that grow in the wet and barren lands around the lakes of the Köyceğiz region are another feature of the area. Along the coastline there are sand type vegetation. The Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles that make use of the İztuzu Beach for reproduction have been given official protected status as they are an endangered species. The area around the lake, the channels and forest regions have great importance for various animal species both for shelter and breeding.

In order to protect the Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) turtles and the site where they lay their eggs a ground breaking project was developed for the estuary of the Dalyan Stream and Iztuzu Beach. The area is used as a beach during the day but is left to turtles at night. The egg-laying areas are marked and protected and it is forbidden to even put up a beach umbrella in the  nesting area.

Not only the Caretta carettas but also a wide range of bird species in the liquid amber orientalis forest and the sandy areas  around the lake have been granted official protection. Many birds, such as coot, stork, kingfisher, swallow, reed nightingale, snake eagle, bee-eater, seagull, glossy ibis and white small herons, make use of the area as a breeding ground or a winter shelter.

The region has a biological richness where the natural vegetation of the Mediterranean, including olive trees, red pines (pinus briuta), arbutus (Arbutus andrachne) and almond tree can be found.