The ecological effects of recreational activities on soil and vegetation cover in Yedigöller National Park

SUMMARY With the increase in population and urbanization, as well as the development of technology, people's demand for outdoor recreation activities is increasing. For this reason, national parks and other protected areas, which have rich natural and cultural resources and offer recreational opportunities to users, are visited by many people. However, these visits have a negative environmental impact and may cause deterioration in the resource values ​​of natural areas. Scientists call studies that examine, evaluate and observe visitor impacts in natural areas recreation ecology studies. Such information is critical to identifying and describing impacts, easily understanding the consequences of impacts, and mitigating, restoring, and managing the impact. The factors that determine recreational impacts are the type of use, amount, time, and characteristics of the area. The aim of this study is to determine the effects on soil structure depending on recreational activity types in Yedigöller National Park, which has sensitive ecosystems, and to ensure sustainable use of the area. Key Words: Protected areas, Recreation, Impact, Soil, National parks, Yedigöller National Park