Integrated river basin management: A case of Büyük Menderes river basin

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Mimarlık Fakültesi, Şehir ve Bölge Planlama Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2013

Öğrenci: ÇİĞDEM ÖZONAT

Danışman: EMİNE YETİŞKUL ŞENBİL

Özet:

The aim of the thesis is to examine the Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Planning approach and to evaluate the applicability of this approach in Turkey in terms of planning tools as well as legal and institutional aspects. As a particularly suitable form of implementation of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) paradigm, IRBM is recognized as the most appropriate tool in the international arena for sustainable use of water resources through the integration of water planning and management with socio-economic development and environmental concerns. In this framework, the thesis is organized in two major parts. The first part focuses on the theoretical framework of IRBM with regards to its definitions, principles and implementation tools. The second part, meanwhile, examines the implementation of IRBM planning in Büyük Menderes River Basin within the scope of its success in the interpretation of the IRBM planning as well as the compatibility of national legal, institutional and planning framework to IRBM process. Despite the inadequacies in the water-related legal and institutional frameworks and ill-defined hierarchical position in planning system, the Büyük Menderes River Basin Management Plan can be regarded as one of the successful examples of IRBM implementations with its participation level and a new organizational structure. Since it is the first and only IRBM planning process in Turkey, it can offer an insight to prospective management and planning practices in other river basins.