Evaluation of Pelitçik Petrified Forest Landscape Application Project within the framework of UNESCO Global Geoparks and SITES Rating System

Abstract

When the types of tourism around the world are examined, it is seen that ecotourism, a type of nature tourism based on conservation, has made rapid developments. Ecotourism activities carried out in areas with geological heritage brought the concept of geotourism to the agenda. Geotourism activities, which are generally carried out in sensitive areas where protection is a priority, have led to the search for a balance of protection and use, and the concept of geopark has been accepted as the most appropriate model for this. Global networks have been established to coordinate the relationship and experience sharing among the world's geoparks. Many countries have started to establish geoparks to protect and promote their geological heritage and to make the necessary arrangements to join these networks, especially UNESCO Global Geoparks. UNESCO has determined some criteria for a geopark to receive the title of global geopark. Geoparks are a part of geotourism and geotourism is a part of ecotourism. The principle of sustainability, one of the foundations of ecotourism, is a prerequisite in many fields today. Various rating systems have been established for sustainable land designs in the world. The SITES Rating System is one of them. This study was carried out in the Pelitçik Petrified Forest, which is one of the geosites in Kızılcahamam-Çamlıdere Geopark in Ankara, which has an international geological heritage. There are a total of 23 geosites designated as stops in the geopark. Necessary landscaping arrangements were made in only a few of these. However, making and implementing landscape projects of geosites is one of the tangible steps in bringing geopark stops to science, education and geotourism, and supporting sustainable protection and development. From this point of view, a landscape application project was made in order for the Pelitçik Petrified Forest geosite to function as a geopark stop. In this study, the project was evaluated within the framework of UNESCO Global Geopark criteria and SITES Rating System. Although the landscape project alone is not sufficient for the global geopark title, it makes remarkable contributions and largely meets the sustainable design criteria.