Determination of relationship of landslide areas with forest roads using geographical information systems

Forest roads are infrastructure elements that are vital for the sustainable management and use of forests. Forest roads are the most necessary facilities for carrying out many activities such as forest management and maintenance, firefighting, logging and wood transportation, ecotourism and recreation. However, forest roads have both benefits and harms. The most important of these is that they increase the risk of landslides. Forest roads built without detailed examinations in the area and without analyzing all parameters increase the risk of landslides both during and after construction. In this study, the topographic features of the area determined within the borders of Trabzon province in the Eastern Black Sea Region within the scope of Araklı Forest Operation Directorate, which is included in Sürmene Forest Operation Directorate, were determined and maps were created. All roads, landslide areas and landslide-free areas in the area were determined via ArcGIS and the distance of the roads to these areas was determined. The relationship between parameters such as slope, aspect and elevation and landslide areas were statistically analyzed. As a result of the study, the relationship rates of all parameters with landslides were found for this area. In line with the results obtained, it is recommended that more comprehensive analyses be conducted during the planning of forest roads.