Spatial and temporal variation in distribution of pasture and highlands : a change detection analyses based on aerial photographs
Atasoy, Mustafa & Cemal Biyik
The highlands and pastures in the Black Sea Region of Turkey and the lifestyle of its people have an important place in the rich cultural landscape of Turkey. Besides, pasture and highlands of the region have vital importance in the sustaining of stockbreeding and organic agriculture. However, in recent years due to migration of rural habitants of Turkish people to the cities, there have been observed substantial decrease in the workforce. Also, wrong agricultural politics have resulted in diminishing of livestock. In the region, some pastures have been turned into forest areas. The highlands have been used as a touristy area. Some new unlicensed constructions have sprung up centered around providing lodging and other basic needs for these highland visitors. The chance to experience the traditional highland culture and its pristine environment has drawn many people and new kind of 'Highland tourism' has enabled many of them to participate in this fascinating way of life. This paper was basically focused on changes of pasture and highlands use in the Black Sea Region of Turkey. For this, aerial photos (black-white, scale 1/25.000, dating 1973; colourinfrared, scale 1/15.000, dating 2002) were used. The Change Detection extension in ARCVIEW3.2 was used to calculate areas of gains, losses and any change between 1973 and 2002 in each of the highland and pasture areas. According to result of investigations, it was seen that pastures have generally turned into forest areas and many unlicensed constructions have sprung up in the highlands. It was seen that there were a lot of road construction activities and damage of nature rather than necessary in the highlands.
Event: XXIII International FIG Congress : Shaping the change
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