Ecological assessment and restoration of shores

Shores create transfer area between aquatic and terrestric ecosystems. In Coastal Areas Law1990, low shores which are beaches and wetlands, narrow-high shores, which are fjord, riaetc., defined as a types of shore. Lakeshores, riparian and old shores are also types of shoresin the references and Coastal Areas Law. All of them which are saying above are semiterrestric ecosystems.An ecological point of view shores which can be classified in the semi terrestric ecosystemconstitutes habitat for flora and fauna. Because of the transfer areas between aquatic andterrestric ecosystems contain various species and biodiversity. Furthermore, shores have a lotof functions from shore protection, erosion controlling, flood, water and environmentalprevention, wind and storm conservation, to creating of local climate. Due to the destructionand deformation of shores, ecological importance of them which are defined above failed tofulfill functions. This research comprise ecological importance, occurring of destructions andreasons of the shores, and vegetation restorations works especially using biological techniquesin this area. Moreover planning principles and restoration application examples are givenfrom the world and our country, Turkey.Ecological importance of shores and sustainable restoration works were assessed in the finaland suggestions section of the thesis.Key Words: Shores, semi terrestric ecosystem, ecological importance of shores, destructions,restoration works.