Knowledge of the local communities, as the most important external resource of threat on the biological diversity values and ecosystem services provided by the natural habitats is important for the sustainable resource use and use-conserve balance. In this context, increase in awareness and capacity of the rural communities having direct interaction with the natural resources and habitats, especially women and youth, is of prior importance.

With this view, increasing the awareness and capacity of the local community in Sinop province Sar?kum Lake Basin, for the conservation of the region as an important biodivrsity area, sustainable use of the natural resources and decreasing the human being oriented threats to these, targeter with the project. The proposed results of the project activities, defined under the capacity development topic, can be summarised as the increase in the capacity of the local community specifically women and youth, establishment of the local communication and information sharing networks and cooperation of the local community with the local public institutions for the conservation of the basin.