Sultan Sazlığı is one of the most popular places of Kayseri and as a part of Develi, its contributions to the district in terms of tourism, trade and creating income source for the local people, cannot be negligible. Also the area has national and international conservation statements such as Wildlife Protection Area, Natural Reserve Area, Ramsar Area and Natural Protected Area. Because of its rare ecosystem with fresh and salt water ecosystems, Sultan Sazlığı provides a safety area for around 301 bird species during the year for feeding, sheltering and nesting. On the other hand, as a result of the global warming and the activities of local people around the area, at last years, Sultansazlığı which is called as bird paradise, is in danger. The various usage of area as water source, agricultural area, residential area, and tourism area comes with several threats. Planless reed cut and reed fires, priority difference in using water resources, ecological pollution, planes construction and tourism activities can be given as examples to represent the critical situation.
Here, in Sultan Sazlığı Ecology Center, it is aimed to conserve the wildlife starting with Sultan Sazlığı and increase the awareness of people not only locals but also volunteers, visitors and everybody who comes here with the ideas or questions about ecological systems, treats for environmental sustainability, and the protection of natural life. With the help of this center, Develi can become a center of wildlife protection and conservation. By this way, while the local people can threat the area less, also they can find additional income resources via increased number of visitors to the area. The center is located near the existing Bird Paradise Museum and visitor center to work in a collaboration with them. Moreover Sultan Sazlığı Ecology Center provides research opportunities with the help of innovative technologies for the observation and studies of the researchers and it enables suitable areas for school trips and workshops for students to support education.
While designing Sultan Sazlığı Ecology Center, it is aimed to feed from Develi’s codes in terms of materials. In this center reed as a local material is used with an innovative approach for the facade shading and roof covering. Also to create a more sustainable indoor environment, solar controlling and natural lighting solutions are taken into consideration. The center is consist of four main area, a botanical garden, visitor center with a green roof, education area and wildlife conservation and innovation center. Visitors can experience the magical environment of the botanical garden and then by the panorama ramp, they can enjoy the view of Sultan Sazlığı and then end their trip at the terrace café. After the café, education area welcomes the visitors. With the help of experience areas and children library while children enjoy the environment, they also can learn about ecological life. Near the education area, wildlife conservation center that has research offices, a multipurpose hall and innovation and volunteers center is located. The research offices have an open working space design to allow people work in a more interactive and productive environment.
