Rural landscape transformations: Bozcaaada

With the simplest definition, rural areas are places that are different from urban areas. They are shaped by mostly their economical activites and show rural features with their natural values. Rural settlements are not as intense as urban areas. But according to some definitions of population, definitions of rural areas could vary from country to country. Basically the main criteria that defines the rural areas is demographic information. In addition to rural villages, some county centers are defined as a rural area because of their rural characters. In this context, rural areas are mostly shaped by population density and rural characters. Today the dimensions of the globalization and its developments are experienced in urban, rural and even in the transitional areas between urban and rural and especially effect the dominant form that shapes these areas. Urbanization process is most effective on the countryside. Because the movement from urban to rural that is called urban sprawl, transforms rural areas into built-up areas. The developments that take effect on the building environment in urban areas, show themselves on the landscape texture in rural settlements. Because of that these areas could lose their unique identities. With natural and cultural features the rural areas have a more different landscape identity than the urban areas. Besides rural areas are very important at a time when resources are increasingly disappearing, when considering the values they have in terms of sustainability. With the fact that due to pressure of urban to rural, some sectors such as tourism, commerce and industry are spreading to the rural areas. So it has a negative effect on the unique identity of the countryside. This situation effects both natural character and process of the countryside as well as the quality of life in the negative direction. At this point, the unique landscape identity of the rural areas come to the forefront. Landscape identity analysis is an important research method that used in the literature to understand and conceptualize the characteristics of rural areas. Because of the variety and dominant character of some sectors such as tourism and commerce, local rural identity is effected negatively. The change of the local rural identity and becoming a different identity of these sectors are some of the problems experienced in the rural areas. At this stage it is very important to reveal the landscape identity items which are defined as character areas, to purify them from the negative factors, or even to redefine them in term of the future situation of these regions. This study focuses on landscape identity analysis with the unique character areas that gives uniqueness and distinctiveness to an rural area. Bozcaada has been chosen as a research area which is trying to preserve its uniqueness with its rural character and landscape components, but also under the threat of losing its characteristic rural landscape features with tourism pressure. The study aims to create strategies based on landscape identity that leads to spatial planning and design decisions for future of Bozcaada. According to this aim, two targets were determined: 1. Determining change and transformation of these regions in the historical process. 2. Determining spatial character and identity components. According the research design of this study, there are several subsets between stages: Literature review (process of historical development), identifying period of change (determining spatial reflection of rural landscape changes with superposing historical maps), determination of landscape character zones (determining spatial landscape characteristics and finding spatial distribution of these zones), developing design and planning strategies (based on landscape concept). At the beginning of the study, various research questions such as the relationship between settlements and rural texture, the role of rural planning in this process and how the concept of identity came together with the landscape, were taken out from the definitions of identity concept basically in order to reach the determined aim. Determining of all these research questions is an important stage of the study, especially providing a base for literature review. By simplifying the research questions and their sub questions, clear questions and problems related to the goals and objectives have been reached. After the literature review the spatial traces of the physical, socio-cultural and economic factors on landscape of Bozcaada over time have been determined. These spatial traces are potentials and opportunities for the island, and at the same time they are problems and threats. These potentials or threats are the spatial reflection of the factors that lead to the change or rural landscape identity in Bozcaada. In that case some basic and spacial analysis are made with several literature sources and also the collected data from field trip to Bozcaada. After the general information, the natural features of Bozcaada were mentioned at the general island scale. The topographical structure, geological and geomorphological structure, climatic characteristics, hydrological structure, vegetation cover and soil structure of the island have been reported by examining many source studies. Maps of these topics are produced in ArcGIS. In the analysis of the character areas determined on the island scale, which is the basis of the study, studies were carried out the dominant character regions and to evaluate these regions. During the determination of the regions, various source readings, observations in the field work and interpretation of maps for various years were made. When the character areas are determined, the prevalence rates of the whole island have been evaluated by considering several criteria such as dominant characteristics, being descriptive and determinative for the island, preserving their present existence from now on and their situation in the local economy. In the last part of the study several character areas that define the identity of the island were determined. After determination, these character areas were examined in detail and supported by photos from field trip. All the examination discloses everything about Bozcaada, and shapes its character and identity. Without one of the character area, the existing identity would lost or change into another one. Uniqueness of Bozcaada consists of these components and they are very important for the island and its future. With these character areas, an identity were determined for Bozcaada. Within this identity concept, some strategies that are based on landscape, are developed. It is considered that these strategies would be helpful for planning and design decisions about Bozcaada. Without landscape perception in planning and design, Bozcaada could transform an urban area, and lose its unique rural character. It is obvious that current rural development perception can not focus on whole landscape area, and with this perception natural areas become built-up environment. Globalization, urbanization, accessibility and other topics force rural areas to change. It can be balanced with revealing rural areas character types, defining an identity, developing some strategies that focuses on landscape.