Historic landscape character analysis in protected areas; a case study Kazdagi National Park

Landscapes, whose characters are the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors, are dynamic. Proper understanding of today's landscapes is only possible through the knowledge of their historical dimension, in other words, changes that have occurred in time-slices or time-depth. Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) is an approach to the management and understanding the present historic environment as a product of past changes and as the basis for future change. In the research, defining and mapping of Historic Landscape Character Types of Kazdağı National Park were made with 127 years of time depth by using Historic Landscape Characterisation approach. In line with these data, 'Direction of change', 'Rarity', and 'Vulnerability' analysis studies were carried out. The project was carried out in five phases. In the first stage, the dataset of the research area was prepared and then Broad Historic Character Types polygons were created with using visual interpretation and digitising on screen techniques in ArcGIS 10.1 software. After that, morphologic analysis of polygons (Landscape pattern, boundary morphology, etc.) were made and relevant attributes were assigned. Thus, the first stage that defining and mapping of Historic Landscape Characterisation was completed. The specified character types in this process were comfirmed with field survey. At the third step, Historic Landscape Character Areas were made out. And then, in the fourth stage, 'Direction of change', 'Rarity', and 'Vulnerability' analysis studies were carried out. And finally, the relevant assessments were made in order to contribute protection, management and planning of National Park landscapes studies.