A research on conservation and use changes in agricultural land: Turkey and developed country implementations

Agricultural lands, which are important both in terms of economic and food security and which are a scarce natural resource, are exposed to non-purpose uses and irreversibly destroyed over time. Non-purpose using can occur as a result of unauthorized use of land by landowners in ways that are incompatible with agricultural purposes, or as a result of decisions taken by the public. Many countries around the world are facing the problem of non-purpose using of agricultural land and are implementing various practices to minimize this problem. The study aims to formulate policy recommendations for the protection and utilization of productive agricultural land in Turkey based on development-based conservation tools used abroad. In this context, the study examines the factors that cause change of use in agricultural lands, in other words, the factors that cause non-purpose using and the types of non-purposing using. Then, the mentioned process is discussed with its legal and administrative dimensions in Turkey. It has been determined that the main factors influencing the non-purpose using of agricultural land in Turkey are urbanization - urban sprawl, the phenomenon of private ownership and the decisions taken by the public sector. Subsequently, successful zoning-based implementation tools that have been used to conserve productive agricultural land around the world were examined. And the effectiveness, advantages and disadvantages of these tools are discussed. The study concluded that current legislation in Turkey is insufficient to protect productive agricultural land from non-purpose using, the benefits of which extend to the whole community and the country. Therefore, new enforcement tools and protective techniques directly aimed at protecting agricultural land should be included in the legislation. It was also emphasized that new policies need to be put in place to manage urban growth and sprawl, which is an important factor in the non-purpose using of agricultural land.