Identification of priority areas (hotspots) for conservation of biodiversity: South of the Anatolian Diagonal

This study aims to identify biodiversity conservation priorities in the region south of the Anatolian Diagonal in Turkey. Recognized as one of the world's major biodiversity hotspots, this area boasts high species diversity and endemism. However, it is severely threatened by habitat fragmentation, climate change, human activities, and inadequate conservation measures. Current conservation efforts often focus on less accessible wetlands and forest habitats, failing to adequately cover areas under the highest anthropogenic pressure. This highlights a significant gap in Turkey's biodiversity conservation strategies. The study provides theoretical information for conservation work by addressing the general definition of biodiversity and its relationships with abiotic elements that constitute habitats. Each component of biodiversity is emphasized for its vital importance in ecosystem services, economic contributions, climate change mitigation, food security, health and medicine, cultural and aesthetic values, and scientific research. In this context, it is noted that biodiversity conservation is crucial not only for maintaining ecological balance but also for human well-being and sustainable development. The research problems include the region's rapid biodiversity loss and the inadequacy of current conservation methodologies. Accordingly, the aim of the study is to identify priority areas for developing biodiversity conservation strategies in the region. Advanced technological methods such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing (RS), and artificial intelligence (AI) were integrated within the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) Model. This integration enables more effective identification of conservation priorities and formulation of strategic responses to environmental changes. The research aims to contribute to the maximum efficiency use of limited conservation resources by developing innovative and effective conservation strategies. The integration of GIS, remote sensing, and AI technologies has provided great accuracy and precision in identifying conservation areas. These technologies played a critical role in identifying critical areas for biodiversity conservation and effectively utilizing existing resources. The environmental pressure, state, and response model used in the study, along with the integration of these technologies, provided a scientific basis for the development of conservation strategies. This model allows for a comprehensive analysis of pressures on biodiversity, the current state, and conservation responses, leading to the identification of the most effective strategies for biodiversity conservation. The research findings indicate that the pressure of human activities on biodiversity is greater than natural pressures. The finding that human pressures are significant at 75% compared to natural pressures at 25% underscores the necessity of minimizing human-induced pressures in developing conservation strategies. This highlights the need to promote sustainable practices to mitigate the adverse effects of urbanization, agriculture, logging, and recreational activities on biodiversity. Among the state criteria, ecosystem criteria were weighted higher than species criteria (67% to 33%), indicating that the protection of ecosystems plays a fundamental role in species conservation. The significant impacts of climate elements (temperature and precipitation) and the heterogeneous structure of topography on biodiversity were identified. These findings are important for assessing the potential impacts of climate change and land-use changes on ecosystems. The response criteria encompass activities aimed at counteracting biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. These criteria include elements such as education, public awareness, and legal regulations. Education is critical for biodiversity conservation, playing an important role in raising environmental awareness and promoting sustainable practices. Legal regulations are also considered a critical component in ensuring the applicability and effectiveness of biodiversity conservation efforts. The finding that education criteria are significant at 41%, legal regulations at 33%, and protected areas at 26% underscores the necessity of enhancing public awareness and providing strong legal frameworks for the sustainability of biodiversity conservation efforts. In conclusion, this study has taken an important step in identifying priority areas for biodiversity conservation in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and south of the Anatolian Diagonal in Turkey. The environmental pressure, state, and response model provides the necessary scientific basis for making biodiversity conservation efforts more targeted and effective. Given the region's extensive geographical and ecological characteristics, this study offers an important guide for developing and implementing biodiversity conservation strategies. The research findings clearly demonstrate the importance of identifying and protecting critical areas to minimize biodiversity loss and sustain ecosystem services. In this context, the results of the study provide significant contributions to both academic literature and practical conservation efforts. Additionally, the study aims to offer a common model that can be applied in other biodiversity hotspots facing similar challenges, thereby making a significant contribution to the field of conservation science. Ultimately, the study is expected to contribute to the broader goal of ensuring long-term environmental sustainability. The findings of this study indicate that socio-economic factors must also be considered in determining conservation priorities. The impacts of human activities and habitat fragmentation on biological diversity emphasize the need to identify conservation areas suitable for the region's ecological and socio-economic context. Considering regional dynamics and the needs of local communities enhances the effectiveness of conservation strategies. In this context, it is necessary to promote sustainable practices to reduce the pressure of human activities such as urbanization, agriculture, logging, and recreation on biodiversity. It is recommended to identify sensitive areas for biodiversity conservation in land-use planning and limit human activities in these areas. Keywords: Biodiversity, Anatolian Diagonal, Conservation, Spatial Analysis, Sustainability, Environmental Status, Pressure and Response Model.