Lake Van is T & uuml;rkiye's largest lake, and within it lies Akdamar, a small seven-hectare island. In 2008, eight feral European rabbits were introduced to the island to attract tourists. With no natural predators, their population had increased to 3,000 by 2016, causing severe ecological damage, destroying almond trees, accelerating soil erosion, and damaging historical buildings through burrowing. In response, local authorities launched a management programme from 2016 to 2017, removing 1,500 rabbits through physical control methods such as live trapping, net trapping, and night spotlighting. However, funding shortages halted further efforts, and the population surged to an estimated 4,000-5,000 by 2023. The rabbits now occupy the entire island, degrading vegetation, diminishing ecosystem services, and threatening tourism. According to the assessment conducted in this study, the situation is classified as causing major ecological impacts under the Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa and minor cultural effects under the Socio-Economic Impact Classification of Alien Taxa. Therefore, urgent, long-term management solutions are essential to prevent further degradation, with public awareness campaigns, community involvement, and education can help reduce human-mediated spread and promote responsible behaviour. Coupled with sustainable, effective management strategies, these efforts are vital to preserving the island's ecosystem and cultural heritage.

Airborne pesticide drift poses a substantial environmental threat in agriculture, affecting ecosystems far from the application sites. This process, in which up to 25% of applied pesticides are carried by air currents, can transport chemicals over hundreds or even thousands of kilometers. Drift rates peak during the summer months, reaching as high as 60%, and are influenced by various factors, including wind speed, temperature, humidity, and soil type. Pesticide volatilization is a significant concern, occurring 25 times more frequently than surface runoff. Under certain conditions, it can result in chemical losses of compounds like metolachlor and atrazine that are up to 150 times higher. These drifting pesticides have profound impacts on biodiversity, harming non-target plants, insects, fungi, and other organisms both near application sites and in distant ecosystems. Pesticide drift has been linked to over 50% reductions in wild plant diversity within 500 m of fields, reducing floral resources for pollinators. Despite growing evidence of these effects, the long-term consequences of airborne pesticides on biodiversity remain poorly understood, especially in complex field conditions with multiple pesticide applications. Addressing this requires urgent measures, such as improved meteorological tracking during applications, adoption of biopesticides, and integrated pest management strategies. This review highlights the pressing need for research to quantify airborne pesticides' ecological impacts, advocating for sustainable practices to mitigate environmental damage.