Design, establish and model application of geographic information systems in Turkish forestry: The sample of Artvin Central Territorial Division

Design, Establish and Model Application of Geographic Information Systems in Turkish Forestry (The Sample of Artvin Central Territorial Division) General Directorate of Forests (GDF) has not yet created the spatial forest database to satisfy the needs, while it established the most powerful Data Processing Centre of Turkey in 1965. However, the GDF is in charge of managing about 20 million hectares of Turkish land base which covers one fourth of the total landmass. The lack of spatial forest database results in collection of the spatial data redundancy, communication problems among the forestry organizations. Also it causes Turkish forestry to be backward of informatics' era. To solve these problems; GDF should establish spatial forest database including spatial data (graphic & attribute data) required to characterize forest ecosystems, and computer network among the forest enterprises across the country. To design the spatial database which provides accurate, on time and current data/info for decision makers and operators in forestry, and to develop sample interface program to apply and monitor classical forest management plans is paramount in contemporary forest management planning process. This research is composed of three major stages: (i) spatial prototype database design considering required by the three hierarchical organizations of GDF (regional directorate of forests, forest enterprise, and territorial division), (ii) user interface program developed to apply and monitor classical management plans based on the designed database, (iii) the implementation of the designed database and its user interface in Artvin Central Planning Unit. By establishing spatial prototype database; spatial data used in forest activities can be stored efficiently in an organization, powerful spatial query and analysis functions of GIS on the database can be conducted and the results submitted to decision makers and users. Moreover, database framework is able to accommodate new data requirements by other organizations of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. With the developed interface program, applying and monitoring forest management plans were simplified and efficient use of GIS technology became possible for local foresters.Key Words: Spatial Forest Database Design, Forest Information System, Developing Interface Program