Determination of desertification sensitivity of Gavurdağı wildlife development area (Kastamonu/Tosya)

This study was prepared to determine the risk of desertification of the Gavurdagi Wildlife Development Area, which has the status of protected areas in the Tosya district of Kastamonu province. Desertification Indicator System for Mediterranean Europe (DIS4ME), a web-based system, was used to calculate the desertification sensitivity of the wildlife development area. The study area is approximately 9262 ha and consists of lands with different land use types (pine, pasture, oak, agriculture). In the study area, stratified random sampling was carried out at 250 points (65 from agricultural areas, 70 from pine forests, 65 from pasture areas, 50 from oak areas) considering different land uses. In order to determine the soil characteristics to be used in the calculation of desertification at the sampling points, soil sampling was made from a depth of 0-30 cm and desertification survey forms were filled simultaneously. As a result of the calculations made using the DIS4ME system, the lowest risk of desertification in the study area was calculated in pine forests with 1.44 (no risk) and the highest in agricultural areas with 8.13 (high risk). This highlights that differential land use is a factor that should be taken into account in the calculation of desertification. In addition, with the risk of desertification, the highest environmental sensitivity was calculated in agricultural areas with 1.53. Incorrect agricultural practices have increased the sensitivity of the area to desertification.