Yuva Association, within the scope of its Solutions to Water Scarcity Program, is implementing a Water Retention Measures Pilot Application in Ayvalık to develop field practices that support the retention of water in the land for longer periods and to contribute to local resilience against the effects of climate change.
The pilot application aims to retain rainwater as much as possible where it falls in olive groves in Ayvalık, slow down surface runoff, increase water infiltration into the soil, and reduce erosion. In this context, the topographic, hydrological, and other characteristics of the land will be evaluated, and water retention practices suitable for the site will be developed and implemented.
What are water retention measures?
Water retention measures are holistic land management practices that not only ensure water remains in the land for longer periods but also preserve soil moisture, reduce erosion, and support natural vegetation.
The goal is to contribute to increasing the resilience of the land to drought and fire risk, especially during hot and dry periods, by preserving moisture in the soil and vegetation for longer periods.
In this context, the pilot application aims to contribute to making olive groves more resilient against drought, excessive rainfall, erosion, forest and land fires, and other effects of climate change.
Local Cooperation
The pilot application is being carried out in cooperation with the Ayvalık District Governorship, District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. By combining local knowledge, field experience, and technical evaluations, the aim is to develop the application in a way that suits the needs of the region and field conditions.
Learning from the Pilot Application
Within the scope of the pilot study conducted in Ayvalık, the suitability, applicability, and effects of the measures to be implemented will be monitored; the aim is for the experience and findings obtained to contribute to the development of repeatable, scalable, and cost-effective solutions that can be applied in similar areas.
Throughout the project, field observations, technical evaluations, and application results will be monitored to assess the benefits that water retention measures can provide in terms of water management, soil health, vegetation, resilience to fires, and the effects of climate change.
Further developments regarding the pilot program’s phases, field studies, and results will be shared through the Yuva Association and Solutions to Water Shortage Program channels.
