“People and Wetlands: case studies from Bendimahi (Turkey) and Boora (Ireland)” by Emel Baylan, Visiting Fellow.

This paper will examine the contrasting connections that exist between people and landscape in the Bendimahi Delta and the Boora peatlands outside Kilcormac, Co. Offaly, where the development of a sculpture park has been instrumental in not just creating a successful tourist attraction (over 120,000 visitors in 2017) but in re-imagining and reinforcing community values vis-à-vis the landscape. This level of community engagement is not evident in the Bendimahi Delta, where the socio-cultural circumstances are very different.