The Land Use Changes in the Çukurova University Campus

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the land-use changes in the Cukurova University campus, providing ecosystem services to the city of Adana with its natural areas. Land uses of the study area were determined via GIS techniques. The Image results were verified by doing field studies. Also, the "Cukurova University Balcali Campus Construction Plan Amendment, 2017 with 1/1000 scale" was assessed to foresee the land-use changes in the future. The most critical land-use changes in the campus were on the campus central area and transportation network pressure increasing, especially after 2000. This change in land uses mainly caused the decrease in biological diversity and the distortion of the balance among other land uses such as forestation, agriculture, and meadow. Suggestions related to the campus central area and transportation network that would not harm or minimize the campus's natural ecosystems and biological diversity were made and mapped.