Located within the boundaries of Karataş District in Adana, the ecologically significant Ağyatan Lagoon is being preserved through ongoing efforts to combat dune erosion. Covering an area of 445.65 hectares, the project aims to halt the movement of dunes between the lagoon and the sea while enhancing the region's biological diversity.
Launched in 2015, the project has implemented various physical and mechanical measures, such as barbed-wire fences and windbreaks, to slow down dune movement. During this process, a total of 1,339,250 saplings from 25 different species—selected specifically to stabilize the dunes—were planted.
The project also introduced income-generating species, including Pinus pinea, carob bean, fig, pomegranate, blackberry, myrtle, liquidambar, and rosemary, providing economic benefits for local communities while strengthening the ecosystem and supporting sustainable development.
In addition, seeds of naturally occurring species, such as chaste tree and pancratium maritimum, were collected from nearby areas and sown within the project site to encourage the regeneration of native vegetation.
As a result of these efforts, vegetation growth has been successfully established across the dune areas, biodiversity has increased, and the movement of dunes has been halted, thereby safeguarding the natural balance and wildlife of the Ağyatan Lagoon.