The Köyceğiz-Dalyan Special Environmental Protection Area consists of the city of Köyceğiz and 4 sub-districts and 13 villages annexed to it in the state of Muğla. Caretta caretta turtles, which use İztuzu Beach as a reproduction area, are protected because they are facing extinction. The surroundings of the lake, canals and forests have a great potential as a reproduction and sheltering place for various other animals. Various bird species such as Coot, Stark, White-breasted Kingfisher, Sparrow, Reed Warbler, The gull-billed tern, Short-toed Eagle, Bee Eater, Sea Gull, Glossy Ibis, and Little Egret use the area for wintering and incubation. Dalyan and Köyceğiz, which are completely vulnerable, are of great natural, historical and ecological value. Dalyan is also a settlement where tourism investments are high. Köyceğiz Lake, rivers, Dalyan Canal, Dalyan reed beds and the sea are vulnerable in terms of pollution and therefore should always be protected. An ideal project model has been developed in order to protect the sea turtles and their reproduction area in the Dalyan reed bed /İztuzu location. Because the sea and the sand in the area are also intensely used by people, the project has suggested that the area be used by people during day time and by the turtles at night. The areas out of the settlements, namely natural areas, sweet gum forests, reed areas on the banks of the lake and sand dunes, are now under protection. - Professor Dr. Veysel Eroğlu