Investigation of the contemporary situation of protection forests in Turkey

Protection forest concept was mentioned first time in Turkey in the forestry legislation number 504 in 1924; however, first protection forest was established in 1950 and today their numbers have reached up to 55. Although positive impacts of several functions of forests in terms of water cycle, protection of soil and soil fertility; health, weather and carbon cycle are well understood other than production of wood raw material, still there are a very few protection forests in Turkey. It is believed that these forests are ignored in regards to management. In this study, the current status of protection forests in Turkey has sought to demonstrate clearly in terms of administrative and physical. In this project, 10 different forests are chosen which will represent each separation criteria stated in the regulations of the protection forests. These protection forests are investigated on site and it has been determined whether there is a change in terms of separation criteria when the area was reserved and today, as a protection forest. Moreover, interviews were made with forestry employee of management. According to the results of the analysis; in order to ensure the sustainability of the protection forests, various recommendations have been developed on the measure to be taken in order to increase the protection measure, to adapt the legislation to the current requirements, to give information to the personnel about the importance of protection forests, to give trainings on the protection methods, to the determination, planning and management of the new protection forests.