The contracts for "Determination of Sensitive Areas and Water Quality Targets on Basin Basis" and "Determination of Hazardous Substances in Coastal and Transitional Waters of Turkey and Ecological Coastal Dynamics Project" between the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs and TUBITAK Marmara Research Center were signed on 27.09.2012 by Prof. Dr. Yücel Altunbaşak, President of TUBITAK and Prof. Dr. Cumali Kınacı, Director General of Water Management.

TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Yücel ALTUNBAŞAK, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs Prof. Dr. Lütfi AKÇA, General Director of Water Management Prof. Dr. Cumali Kınacı, Deputy President of TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center (MAM) Prof. Dr. İbrahim Dinçer and officials from the institutions involved in the project attended the signing ceremony.

The aim of the Project on Identification of Sensitive Areas and Water Quality Targets on Basin Basis is to identify sensitive water areas, nitrate sensitive water areas and sensitive areas affecting these areas in terms of water pollution in surface waters and groundwater in 25 water basins in Turkey and to determine water quality targets and measures to be taken to improve water quality.

The aim of the Project on the Determination of Hazardous Substances in the Coastal and Transitional Waters of Our Country and Ecological Coastal Dynamics is to determine the hazardous substances found / likely to be found in the pilot areas to be selected on the coasts of our country to reflect the coasts of Turkey and the effects of these substances on the ecosystem.

Thanks to these projects, which are of critical importance for Turkey, significant progress will be made by the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs in fulfilling the requirements of the Water Framework Directive, which must be put into practice during Turkey's accession and harmonization with the European Union.