Approach to ecosystem services in landscape planning: Case of Duzce province

In nature protection and sustainability, it is important to identify human activities and natural risks. In the spatial plans in our country, definitions such as nature protection, ecological protection zones and sustainability are not sufficiently seen. It is assumed that ecological basic and sustainable development approaches, which are lacking in these plans, can be provided by landscape planning. The ecosystem services approach, which is used as a tool in the planning process, is the contribution or benefits of people from ecosystems (photosynthesis, pollination, food, aquaculture, etc.). In this study, the conceptual understanding of ecosystem services, and the spatial planning process, landscape planning and ecosystem services and their integration are emphasized within the framework of national / international literature. The study area is designated as the Merkez District of Düzce Province covering an area of 259.300 ha in the Western Black Sea Region. The thesis consists of three stages: inventory, analysis and evaluation. In the first stage; using the Analytic Hierarchy Process, the capacities of resource providing, regulating and cultural ecosystem services were identified and mapped by means of Geographical Information Systems. In the second stage; In the determination of spatial and temporal change, the effects of land cover and population change for about 20 years before and after were investigated. In the third stage; some evaluations have been made for the development of agriculture, forestry, tourism sectors and settlements in relation to landscape planning (water infiltration, landscape erosion risk, habitat function) and ecosystem services. As a result; it is revealed that ecosystem services capacities will be adversely affected if the urbanization rate and population increase in the study area continues in their current state. Ecosystem services is a planning tool by emphasizing the sustainable use of natural resources approach, some recommendations for the use of ecosystem services in spatial planning process in Turkey has been introduced.