A Research on the physical planning of recreational land uses in Gilan province of Iran

The research area covers Gilan province which is situated in the Caspian region of Iran. In addition to the excessive population increases, rapid urbanization, industrialization and technological progress in agriculture in recent years, the inadequancy of legal regulations and sometimes deficiencies of the laws creates many environmental problems in Gilan province where the proper use of natural and cultural values are rather restricted; The aim of this study is to examine the tourism recreation developments that partially are affected by all these problems. The Caspian region and especially Gilan province are among the most important and attractive parts of Iran for their recreational, natural and cultural values. These values give a great touristic vitality to the region today as it was in the past. However, non-existence of a rational recreational land use policy and inadequancy of recreational awareness and infrastructure for the users may cause negative reactions at the extreme levels in the community. Therefore use of leisure time and development of recreational activity types can be held back. Until recent years, since tourism and recreational land use and religious, social and traditional values of Iran were in conflict, this subject has been exposed to many misunderstandigs and therefore it has been put some limitations on many recreational activities. In this way, these kind of behaviours and reactions have been the reason of extensive recession in tourism, recreational culture. So, eventhough this subject has been examined systematicaly today, these type of problems and axieties have not been eliminated completly yet (RAHNAMAII 1989, a). Particularly, after the years of war between Iran and Iraq prevention of rapid urbanization and population increases have£» **J Cm gained a great importance for a new structural works which will take place at a country-wide scale. The need for preparing tourism development plans according to ecological factors which are reviewed within regional physical planning schemes has become an accepted phenomenon in recent wars. As ths research area hü§ a great potential for tourism and recreation* it is essential to make some comprehensive schemes such as these are. Within this work, taking ecological factors into account, the potential of tourism and recreation in the research area has been determined and the land use plans, balanced with ecological factors, have also been tried to developed for long term period. Till today, a big majority of tourism and recreational activities in the region has been concentrated on the coastal zone. However, as well as for the remains of cutural, historical and especially archeological heritage of the area, there has not been any safety measures to protect and develop those parts with rich potential of natural landscape. On the other hand, the northern hillside of the Alborz Mountains has a great potential for upland settlements and winter sports. Although this area has vctually been used for these purposes, it lacks of a short or long-term recreational land use plan. This is due to the in^dequancy of financial, legal and physical organization in forming infrastructural services and holiday houses. As a result of this, a visitor group with limited recreational opportunity and participation, and without any increase in their number comes out. Another peculiarity of this case is that the visitors or participants are concentrated in certain areas and especially on the coastal zone. The concentration of activities in one area may cause extensive uses, and consequently, the fact of damage. In this study, in accordance with the changing and advancing needs of community, principles of recreational land use has been tried to bring out in order to protect and develop the natural293 resources. The results that came out from this work will enlight the long term physical developments in Gilan province, forming an important piece of chains of the related plans. Finally, on the direction of mentioned principles, the alternatives for touristic and recreational land use that can be applicable in the region were formed and mapped. These resulting alternatives were developed by taking general aptitudes of the users into account as upland, coastal and other recreational types aiming the year 2010. Drawing out inventories of recreational, natural and cultural resources of the study area and putting forward the needs and demands of the visitors in long term, the study has been advaced to indicate principles of recreational land use plans that will play a balancing role in protecting and developing the nature between the use of resources and recreational activities. At the first step of the study, inventories of recreational, natural and cultural resources of Gilan province have been tried to make. During the preparation of inventory works, methods of resource analysis developed by HILLS (1967), LEWIS (1967), McHARG (1967 ve 1969), LYNCH (1971), COOM8ER and BISWAS (1972), LOVEJOY (1973), COPPOCH and DUFFIELD (1975), De CHIARA and KOPPELMAN (1975), ROBINETTE (1984) and works of GOLD (1980), SIMOND (1983), UZUN and ALTUNKASA about the subject were examined. With this aim, climate, topography and morphology, soil, geological and hydrologic structure, flora-fauna and socio-cultural resources of the whole area have been put forward. At the second step of the study, social, cultural and economic structure of the inhabitants and visitors, and the recreational demands has been taken as the base. For this purpose an questionnaire work has ben carried on a number of coincidently chosen persons that represent total number of the users in the294 region. It has been taken care of choosing persons equally belonging to groups from different age, sex, social status and income level. "In situ questionnaire by standart forms" has been applied together with quuestionnaire by persona! interview (GOLD, 1980; UZUN and ALTUNKASA, 1991). Furthermore, enquiry results have been supported by In situ observations. Enquiry results generally displays today's peculiarities and demands of the users. After determining natural and cultural structure it was tried to identify the dimensions of recreation by taking especially the probable forms of the socio-cultural structure into account in long term. For this reason "Method of Values Projection" (UZUN and ALTUNKASA, 1991) has been used to determine dimensions of the demands according to the mentioned features that might change in long term period. At the third step of the study, in accordance with the demands of the inhabitants and the possible tourism movements by visitors, it has been tried to develop principles of recreational land use. At this stage, setting up an optimum balance between resources and use of resources has been aimed and principles of the plan has been established under the light of this aim. For determining the quality and quantity of the recreational land uses, international recreational standarts as well as recreational demands and needs of the public have been used. To reflect recreational standarts to principles of the recreational land use planning in Gilan province, turning towards public, suitability, applicability and feasibility principles have been taken as criteria. At the last step of the study, recreational capability assessment of the area has been done and physical plan proposals that is convenient for the area have been developed. As MAKHDOUM (1990) argues, ecosystems on the plains and coastal zone of the research area are under excessive pressure and deraded. Damages have also been extended to the mountains and forest land in recent years. Especially as Hazar Forests (Hyrcanian) are very sensitive for their ecological peculiarity and in a condition that can be damaged easily, this area has not been found295 suitable for developments of urbanisation, Industrialization and large farming. Large forests that used to be in the plain and coastal area were disappeared today because of various needs of the inhabitants. Therefore protecting and flourishing today's existing forests would have a positive effect on natural ecosystems in the area and would be helpful in regenerating the natural balance in the region. As a result of the study; it has been found out that the area has a very sensitive structure for ecological features. Ecological planning must be in accordance with the environmental features and people's needs who will benefit from it. That is why, within the process of any physical plans that will be carried out in the area, the principles and goals of protection-utilization concept, balanced with ecological factors, must be indicated. With this study, mentioned principles and goals that concern Gilan province have been developed for tourism and recreation plans. As well as in the resource usage for tourism and recreational purposes, some other sectors that depend on these should be restricted by regulations and administrative precautions. These measures will only be possible with a rational and long-term plans, based on both natural and social criteria.