The evaluation in the context of environmental health of transformations in anatolian sweetgum forests by using environmental history tools:The example of Gökova

Anatolian sweetgum forests, one of the rare and interesting examples of our country's biodiversity are located in Muğla. İt has been observed that the practices implemented since the beginning of this century have been effective in reducing the sweetgum areas. This study is a case study conducted through document analysis, field observations and indepth interviews with people who witnessed the incident. In this study, sweetgum fields in Ula were examined. The data obtained will enable new road maps to be created in the protection of similar wetland ecosystems. The swamp drying works carried out in Gökova at the beginning of this century within the scope of combating malaria increased the living comfort of the people living in the region and provided productive agricultural and residential areas. Meanwhile, it was not noticed that the sweetgum fields were slowly disappearing, and the eucalyptus trees planted in the region instead of the sweetgum tree, which was the symbol of the region, become a symbol. Changes in forest management, forest laws, land management and local people on the forest have caused forest areas to become settlement and agricultural areas. The transformation of wetlands into settlements, the increasing population pressure as the region becomes one of the important tourism centers, theatens the environmental health in the region, which has a high risk of earthquakes, floods and fires. Despite all the negative devlopments, the environment can turn into a good situation again with the studies carried out in the light of scientific data and acting together with natural processes. What is important is the goal to be achieved.