Effects of recreational usage in Uludağ National Park on the some components of ecosystem

National parks have high source values for tourism and recreation both in the world and Turkey. However, this condition could cause pollutions (biological variability, soil structure, water resources and recreation possibilities). On the other hand, the elements that define these recreational effects have been ranged as type, amount, and time of utilization and specifications of the field. The purpose of this study is to define the ecological effects for the soil structure, utilization density and vegetation accordingly. For this purpose, Uludağ National Park that provides recreational possibilities to its visitors and that is under the affect of the metropolitan cities and their number of visitors are included approximately 550.000 people as well as that has been a national park since 1961 was selected. Five picnics and camping area and a tourism development skiing field have been observed within Uludağ National Park in the study. The observation of ecological effect has been carried out basically in two different types. First of all, by carrying out the analysis of the updated satellite views through air photos belonged to previous years and secondly, by analyzing ground specifications and vegetation taken from the sample area, the observation form has been fulfilled in the field and their analyses have been performed accordingly. According to the obtained findings, the effects originating from recreational usage have been observed belonged to long years in the area and last three years. When reviewing the changes in the land cover by the effect of the recreational usage for a long period, the building area, road area and land area have been increasing but the meadowy places have been decreasing and the forestry area has not been directly affected negatively indeed. As a result of field observation that has been carried out for last three years in the recreational using area, the situation of the mostly used area is in the bad condition and within last three years, it has determined that the recreational area has not affected as much as average use area. However, it has concluded that the current affects have not changed very much the general conditions of these fields. It was determined that the effect of the camp activity is mostly observed on the ecological indicators. It was also resulted that the application density in the recreational activity fields has negatively affected some ecological indicators more than expected. On the other hand, when the picnic and camp area have been closed for three years, the expected recovery has not been actualized.Key Words: Natural land, Effect, Recreation, Ecology, Uludağ National Park