Investigation of temporal changes in landscape metrics of Samandere Forest Chiefdom

In this study, stand maps of the Forest Management Plans made by the management teams of Samandere Forest Planning Unit in 1986, 2000 and 2010 were digitized with the help of Geographical Information System (GIS). In these digitization studies, the maps were made on a stand type basis in the 1986 and 2010, and sub-compartmet basis in the 2000 plan. Stand types and sub-compartments were classified as land classes and the parts formed by combining stand types or sub-compartments of the same land class were analyzed. With this analysis, it is tried to put forward the spatial changes in the land use classes depending on time. Thus, the temporal change of land use classes in the plan unit of Samandere Forest Chiefdom of Duzce Forest Enterprise between 1986, 2000 and 2010 was tried to be revealed. As a result of this study, the Samandere Forest Planning Unit turned into a more fragmented structure, stand diversity increased accordingly, the decrease in coniferous forest areas was the most experienced, broadleaved and coniferous + broadleaved (mixed) forest areas were increased and there was not much change in the settlement and agriculture areas. It was concluded that social pressure on forest areas decreased with population decrease and thereafter increased in forest areas was observed and due to biotic factors, destruction in coniferous forest areas was experienced and turned into forest openings. Because coniferous areas decreased periodically, protective measures have to be taken and minimum road network have to be planned for decreasing fragmentation to provide the integrity of forests.