A research on agro-ecological zone based landscape planning: The case of Bartın province

In today's world, climate crisis and food security are among the most critical components of sustainable development. Identifying areas with high agricultural qualities is of great importance in terms of creating healthy societal structures and ensuring economic and environmental sustainability. The effective use of these areas can increase agricultural productivity, maintain ecosystem balance, prevent environmental problems and contribute to sustainable development. In this context, determining the ecological characteristics of agricultural lands, making strategic plans for these areas, as well as integrating agriculture and tourism, are among the primary considerations that should be addressed in the process. This thesis study aims to determine the ecological characteristics of agricultural areas in Bartın province, evaluate agricultural land uses and associate these areas with tourism. In the study, considering the importance of agricultural production, access to safe food, and agroforestry in the context of the climate crisis, efforts were made to identify areas with high agricultural potential, determine their characteristics, conduct ecological zoning, develop climate-adaptive agricultural strategies, and analyze and assess the integration of tourism focal points. Using geographical information systems and fuzzy membership functions, areas with agricultural suitability were identified and an agro-ecological zone map was created for Bartın province. In Bartın province, chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.), a species of high economic and ecological value in agroforestry, has been examined. The assessments focused on chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) aimed to determine the existing and potential growing areas and to reveal the agro-tourism potential. The potential chestnut areas, identified through agro-ecological zoning, have been defined as regions suitable for sustainable agroforestry practices, emphasizing the role of agroforestry and agro-tourism in regional development. Within the scope of the study, chestnut evaluations were made within the framework of landscape character areas in Bartın province, analyses were carried out regarding flood and erosion risks related to the area in terms of agro-ecological practices, and route planning suggestions were developed in terms of agriculture-tourism integration. These analyses and evaluations contain important information regarding the protection of agricultural lands, the sustainability of agricultural resources, and contributions to sustainable development. In conclusion, this study provides valuable data for strategic plans within the framework of agriculture-focused conservation and development by evaluating factors such as tourism, urbanization pressure, and the urban green space system in terms of the current and potential chestnut distribution areas in Bartın province.