Trends of changing land use dynamics in the Terkos Lake basin between 1980 and 2023 and their impact on natural ecosystems

Abstract

Anthropological processes are one of the main causes of the greatest environmental change in this century. As an indicator of man's struggle for dominance over nature, the environment has been directly affected. These changes, which we encounter in every region of the place where we live, locally and globally, and which are human factors, cause the natural circulation of ecosystems to be disrupted. As in Turkey in general, the land use changes in the study area under the influence of direct and indirect factors are very rapid in some regions. No matter how much efforts are made to control them, factors that have a direct impact on the environment, such as population growth, agriculture, industrial facilities and the design of transport infrastructure, are the most important causes of change. In this direction, this study aims to identify the trends of land use changes around Lake Terkos and to reveal the deficiencies and fragilities of the relationship networks. It is also an indication of possible changes in the ecological status of the lake and its surroundings in relation to this situation. The main reason for choosing Terkos Lake as a study area is that it has been the source of drinking water for Istanbul for many years and in recent years it has come under pressure from various activities such as transport (airport, Northern Marmara Motorway, Istanbul Canal and other transport networks), urban sprawl and industry. In this context, first of all, the dynamics of land use and the rapidly changing areas (hot zones) between 1980 and 2023 have been identified and the extent of the changes over time has been shown. Possible future land use changes were analysed in the light of this data. As a result of the study, the speed of transformation of green areas was revealed. In this direction, especially in the field of aquatic ecosystem, vulnerable areas were identified, the degree of being affected by the future change was revealed and the trend in the dimensions of use and change was analysed.

Directions of land degradation in the greater Istanbul metropolitan area: A view from four decades

“…As of 2023, Istanbul stands as both Türkiye's and Europe's largest city, with a population of 15.9 million (TUIK, 2023). Rapid urbanization and industrialization have contributed to issues such as air (Menteşe & Ogurtani, 2021; Ulubey et al, 2021) and water pollution (Nigussie & Altunkaynak, 2019), traffic congestion (Ayazli et al, 2015), and urban sprawl (Cengiz et al, 2019; Kaya & Koc, 2018; Şenol & Taş, 2023). These challenges reflect the complex dynamics and transformations Istanbul has undergone as it navigates the demands of a growing population and evolving economic landscape.…”