Traditional Lifestyle Changes and Impact on Land Use in Southeastern Turkey's Taurus Mountains

Abstract

The traditional lifestyle change that continues from the past to the present causes the degradation of forest areas. In this study, the effects of traditional lifestyle changes on land use around, in the Southeast Taurus Mountains, were investigated. The damages caused by the traditional lifestyle change in the last 60 years have been revealed. In this direction, Geographical Information Systems were used to observe the change with the existing data and the result was evaluated. As a result of the analysis, it is seen that in the selected model areas, forest areas are generally reduced and these areas are replaced by agriculture and settlement. In recent years, agriculture from extensive grazing areas in this region It has been observed that there is a transformation to the fields. In addition, intensive reduction in forest areas and It was determined that there were deteriorations. The study on model areas showed that forest cover in the 60s It is 80%. In the following years, a reduction of over 20% in forest areas, In addition, it was observed that there was an increase in agricultural lands, pastures and settlements. By the 90's, grazing and forest areas (average 20%) turned into agricultural land and settlement.