This study was aimed at determining perception and awareness levels about climate change in three city centers located in the West Mediterranean Region of Turkey and identified differences in public perceptions and knowledge about regional climate change. The study utilized a questionnaire method to obtain data. The results found that approximately half of the participants had inadequate climate change knowledge. In particular, knowledge levels regarding climate change adaptation were comparatively low. Women were more concerned about climate changed compared to men. Additionally, primary and high school graduates and married individuals were also more concerned. Age and income were not determining variables. There were no significant differences in terms of gender, age, income and educational status apart from marital status as to whether or not adaptation to climate change will be achieved. There are varying levels of awareness among the public regarding climate change, and thus it is especially important to organize outreach programs supported by media to increase climate change adaptation knowledge levels. Institutions need to improve their ability to promote public awareness and knowledge about climate change in order to reach a larger proportion of the public.

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Background: The abundance of easy and accessible information and the rapid development of social networking sites (SNSs) have proven that the world is small and within reach. The great implication of this interconnectivity is attributable to the change in the learning and sharing environment, which for the most part is something that classrooms are lacking. Considering the potential implications of SNSs in nursing education reveals the benefits of SNSs in allowing students to communicate and interact with a wider audience and beyond the classroom. The aim of this study is to identify the extent of SNS utilization, the perceived benefits of SNSs and the potential of SNSs for improving the study habits of nursing students in five countries (Israel, Iraq, Oman, the Philippines and Turkey). Methods: This study is a quantitative cross-sectional study that determined the relationship between the utilization of SNSs, the perceived benefits of SNSs, and the potential of SNSs for improving the study habits of nursing students in the five participating countries (Israel, Iraq, Oman, the Philippines, and Turkey). This paper is based on carefully analysing the survey responses of a sample of 1137 students from an online hosting site. The online instrument focuses on the extent of the utilization and benefits of SNSs according to their accessibility, usability, efficiency and reliability. Results: Based on the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) our findings, reveal a significant positive correlation between the extent of a possible improvement in study habits and the extent of SNS utilization in terms of the four domains, namely, accessibility (r = 0.246), usability (r = 0.377), reliability (r = 0.287) and efficiency (r = 0.387). Conclusion: It can be concluded that there is a significant positive correlation between students' study habits and the extent of SNS utilization, meaning that the more students devote themselves to their study habits, the higher the level of SNS utilization. The use of SNSs by nursing students has positive and negative implications, and there is greater potential for further improving approaches to nursing education through the adaptation of curricula based on the proper utilization of SNSs.

Abstract. Environmental education aims to create positive and environmental-sensitive perceptions, attitudes and behaviours toward environmental protection. This education primarily focuses on changing the attitudes and behaviours of students, rather than transferring information. Nature training projects provide improving methods to impart information on nature and environment in formal education programmes and develop people that are sensitive to society and environment. In 2014, a project titled "Judas Trees Are Blooming" was implemented in Turkey with the participation of secondary school 6 th grade students. The aim of the project was to create positive perception and attitudes regarding nature, forests and the environment. This study investigated and determined the effects of nature training projects on environmental perception and attitudes of secondary school students using the above-mentioned project as a case study. Students that participated in the project had more positive environmental perception and attitudes compared to those who did not participate according to questionnaires and observations given during the project. These positive environmental perceptions and attitudes are the benefits of forests, the importance of plants for our life, the mysteries of the worlds of plants and insects, nature and environmental protection and photosynthesis. Furthermore, the project provided positive contributions for raising awareness and improving the interest and knowledge of the participants regarding nature and the environment.

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Forest villagers constitute the poorest of the society in underdeveloped and developing countries. Efforts for the rural development of forest villages are important for combating poverty, regulating the relationship with forest villagers, and ensuring sustainable management of forests, since rural people subsist on forest lands. As the most important method of executing an organized movement in such settlement areas, cooperatives represent one of the most crucial actors in rural development. However, it seems that cooperatives cannot provide adequate contribution to the rural development in Turkey. This research analyses the fi nancial performance of the cooperatives operating in the forest villages located within the boundaries of Bucak and Sutculer forest districts, where forestry activities are carried out intensively in Turkey. This study uses the TOPSIS method, which is a multi-criteria decision-making method. The results of the study revealed that the fi nancial performances of all of the cooperatives were low during the years when they were analysed. The most important reasons for low fi nancial performance include the fact that: (i) the cooperatives mainly operated in the fi eld of wood production and the business volume in that fi eld was inadequate, (ii) their capital was insuffi cient since the members assumed a lower share, (iii) they had challenges accessing constant funds for investment, (iv) the state subsidies decreased, (v) the number of members was low, and (vi) they were unable to compete with large companies.

The protection of natural resources by strict rules at various legal statuses can generally cause damnification for the local people who are the users of this resource. In case the benefit loss that happens by reason of the prohibitions and limitations that are brought related to the usage of the resource is not corrected and local awareness is not created; negative local perceptions can come out pertinent to this resource and in connection with this, hostile attitudes arise related to the resource that is taken under protection. This case is a significant obstacle in front of being able to provide local participation for resource management. In this study the factors that negatively or positively affected the formation of the perceptions of the local people related to the protected areas are studied with the example of Kovada Lake National Park (KLNP). According to the findings of the study, while 25% of the local people have a positive perception on Kovada Lake National Park, the rest has a negative perception. Statistically significant differences have been found between these two groups whose perceptions show differences in terms of the knowledge levels related to the National Park and some losses of benefit that they had for benefiting from it. Santrauka Dėl griežtų teisėsaugos institucijų taikomų gamtinių išteklių apsaugos taisyklių asmenys, naudojantys šiuos išteklius, gali patirti žalos. Dėl draudimų ir ribojimų prarandama nauda negrįžta, neišugdomas ir sąmoningumas. Pateikiamas kliūties, trukdančios vietiniams žmonėms dalyvauti išteklių valdyme, pavyzdys. Veiksniai, teigiamai ar neigiamai veikiantys vietinių žmonių sąmoningumą dėl saugomos teritorijos formavimo, analizuojami Kovados ežero nacionalinio parko pavyzdžiu. Tyrimų duomenimis, 25 % vietinių gyventojų teigiamai vertino Kovados ežero nacionalinio parko apsaugą, kiti – neigiamai. Statistiškai reikšminiai šių dviejų grupių vertinimo skirtumai buvo rasti pagal suvokimą, grįstą žiniomis apie nacionalinį parką ir praradus naudą. Резюме Охрана природных ископаемых на основании строгих правил, диктуемых различными природоохранными учреждениями, может наносить урон лицам, применяющим эти ископаемые. Из-за запретов и ограничений теряется польза от использования ископаемых и в то же время не воспитывается сознательное отношение к охраняемым территориям. В статье представлен пример главных факторов, мешающих местным жителям участвовать в управлении ископаемыми. Факторы, оказывающие положительное или отрицательное воздействие на формирование сознательного отношения местных жителей к охраняемым территориям, анализируются на примере национального парка озера Ковада. На основании данных исследований 25% местных жителей положительно оценивают охрану национального парка озера Ковада, остальные – отрицательно. Статистически значимые различия найдены между этими двумя группами людей, чье представление основано на знаниях о национальном парке и наносимом ущербе.

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