Evaluation of coastal wetlands on the peninsula of Biga-Çanakkale in point of human-environment interaction

Wetlands are one of the most important ecosystems of the world. They provide an indispensable habitat for various kinds of animals, primarily for the immigrant birds. They are important lands, where oxygen of the atmosphere is produced and organic materials are dissolved. In addition to essential functions as being a plant for fish breeding, providing water for drinking and agricultural use, controlling floods and feeding the level of the under water; they have some scientific, educational, aesthetical, archeological, heritage and historical profits that are not just for consumption, that cannot be directly transferred into money.The general purpose of the study is the actual use of coastal wetlands on the Peninsula of Biga- Çanakkale, and the evaluation of the differences and similarities of the perception and the use of wetlands by people living around this area in the direction of geographical principles and to determine the actual potentials and possible risks they face.The essential data for the study is gathered by a research method that is carried out with the help of a scale. It is applied to 266 participants at 13 different settlements. The data is analyzed by frequency and percentage accounts and examined by statistical tests. The results are represented in tables.It is considered by the studies of literature that activities, which were current during the quaternary of streams, are efficient on the formation of the whole study areas, and climatic features and geomorphologic structure on the area contribute to the formation of coastal wetlands. It is concluded that the areas have a fertile alluvial ground and rich water sources; therefore they affect and direct the economic life on the vicinity.Despite not coming across enough literature about the ecological and economical potential of the study areas, it is observed from the studies that those areas have real potentials such as ecological richness, water resources, tourism, energy and etc. It has been decided that the current economical and social structure on the study area coerces the area and forms risks on the life of the living, water resources, human and environment health. All studies show that the area needs a maintainable use that is designed to optimize the conditions in a way that does not destroy the social, economical and ecological structure of the area.