Landscape planning based on nature conservation-tourism in the context of historical landscape and landscape character assessment approaches: meryemana valley sample

The European Landscape Convention (ELC), which includes the determination, protection, management and planning of all landscapes, came on the agenda in the international scale because of the realization of the landscapes changes . However the necessity of ELC has not yet taken its place in the legal process of Turkey and also current researches are still at the initial stage. The historical landscape assessments researches understood newly around the world have not yet been applied in Turkey. Thus, the plans and projects based on protection and sectoral development without landscape awereness and landscape assessment process have caused to damage the landscape with an important source of value and irreversible resource losses The objective of this study is determined the historical landscape process of Meryemana Valley, combined the information produced with character analysis and assessment, and consequently created a valuable sample of landscape planning model that produces nature conservation and tourism based results in which natural and cultural values as well as historical traces are protected. Consequently, 15 landscape character areas included historical traces and landscape character types were described, and the nature conservation and tourism development strategies were determined. This research, which fulfils the necessity of ELC can set a valuable example for other planning and landscape assessment researches of Turkey.