Monitoring and mapping of susurluk basin kocaçay deltawetland

Wetlands are unique ecosystems with a hydrologically complex structure that can be formed naturally or artificially. These complex structures, which contain the characteristics of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, make it difficult to define wetlands precisely and clearly. Since the current functions and values are not known enough, wetland ecosystems, which have been subjected to significant destruction over the years, have been the subject of scientific research over the years and their protection has gained international importance, resulting in the need to define and monitor these areas precisely and clearly. Kocaçay Delta Wetland, which borders the Karacabey and Mudanya districts of Bursa province, which is determined as the study area, has a very convenient structure in terms of soil structure and natural resources, both in terms of its location and hosting longoz forests. For this reason, it is important to monitor the change it has undergone over the years. For this purpose, spatial changes related to Kocaçay Delta Wetland and its surroundings and meteorological data of the study period were examined by using satellite images and management plan data. In our study, controlled classification of the study area was carried out by taking into account the meteorological years with Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 7 ETM+ and Landsat 8 OLI satellite images of the years 2003-2017-2022. As a result of the classification made, the changes related to forest, agriculture, water and open areas were observed based on satellite images. In addition, forest management plans of 2003 and 2017 were examined and the results of land cover change for different years were presented comparatively. According to satellite data, the change in 19 years (2003-2022) decreased by 65.7% in agricultural areas and 5.7% in forest areas; It was determined that there was an increase of 56.2% in open areas and 11.0% in water areas. According to the management plans, the change in 14 years (2003-2017) decreased by 22.1% in agricultural areas, 9.1% in forest areas and 0.7% in water areas; It was determined that there was an increase of 11.2% in open areas. When compared, according to the management plan, the forest area in the 2003 satellite image is 25.6%, the agricultural area is 19.3% and the water area is 53.7%; the opening area was found to be 32.5% less. In 2017, according to the management plan, the forest area in the satellite image is 23%, the clear area is 5.3% and the water area is 69.5%; It has been determined that the agricultural area is 72.3% less. As a result, it is seen that the water surface areas have changed by 0.72% in the management plan data for the years 2003-2017, but the water surface areas are 62% more than the plan areas in the satellite images. The fact that satellite images were taken in May, the excess of precipitation in the flooded forests in the area during the winter months and the lack of sufficient evaporation can be shown as the reasons for this situation. It is expected that the results of the study area will shed light on the studies to be done in similar areas.