Abstract:
Global climate change is very likely to have a major impact on the hydrological cycle, and consequently on
available water resources, flood and drought potentials, and agricultural productivity. As the largest user of
water, the agricultural sector is expected to be affected by global climate change to an even greater extent than
other sectors.
Sufficiency of water resources is generally evaluated in terms of total water potential for total population.
According to this evaluation, the beginning of water stress is accepted as 1700 m3 per capita per year. In Turkey,
total water potential per capita per year was 2900 m3 in 2000, but this value is estimated to fall to 2200 m3 by
2025.
Rapid population growth, industrialization, and rising standards of living will decrease the annual per capita
renewable water potential in Turkey, and in general, Turkey’s water resources are set to decrease to critical
levels. We took as an example the Gediz Basin in western Turkey, which has a total area of some 17 310 ha, and
supplies water for domestic and industrial purposes. The water resources in the basin support wildlife, and are
used to produce energy.
The objectives of this study are to examine the effects of global climate change on agriculture and water sources
in the Gediz River Basin, to discuss the difficulties of management of the basin, and the measures which should
be taken from today.
