Bulent Acma

（Department of Economics Unit of Southeastern Anatolia Project，Anadolu University，Eskisehir 26470，Turkey）

The Southeastern Anatolia Projec（t GAP），one of the most important projects for developing remarkable natural resources of the world，is accepted as a change for getting benefit from rich water and agricultural resources of the Southeastern Anatolia Region.The GAP Project has been considered as a regional development projects through years，but the dimensions of sustainability，protection of environment and participatory have been attached to the master of the project in recent years.When the GAP Project is completed，the Upper Mesopotomia，the centers of many civilisation，will re-again its importance as it had in the ancient times，and will be alive a center of civilisation.Moreover，when the problem of water shortage and water supplies in the world for the future is kept in mind，the importance of Southeastern Anatolia′s water supplies will be doubled.For this reason，the GAP Project，developed by depending on water and natural resources of the region，will have an important place in the world.The aim of this study is to introduce the region with rich natural resources and the GAP Project.For this reason，firstly，the natural potential of the region will be introduced.Second，the GAP Project will be presented in details.In the third stage，the projects being processed for protecting the natural sources and environment will be analyzed.In the last stage，strategies and policies to develop and to protect the natural resources of the region in short，mid，and long terms will be proposed.

natural and water resources；Turkey；Southeastern Anatolia Region；Southeastern Anatolia Project（GAP）