Landscape Change and Implications on Protected Areas

The purpose of this study is to detect the characteristics of the landscape change in the protected area environments by using Remote Sensing, GIS and landscape structure indices. Dilek Peninsula Big Meander Delta National Park of Aydin Province, Turkey is the focus of this case study. SPOT 2X and ASTER images are utilized in object oriented classification to detect changes respectively between 1994 and 2005. 3 landscape structure indices are applied to the classified maps: connectivity index, matrix utility index and core set of metrics. The results have displayed a decrease of the coniferous forests, high maqui, low maqui, grasslands and salt flats, and an increase of the moderately high maqui, garrigue, salt marshes, arable lands and permanent crop fields, and artificial surfaces. Major drivers of the landscape change includes urbanization, agriculture, grazing, fire, and clearing of original vejetation for heating and timber. Subsequently, high maqui and grasslands have been most negatively affected from fragmentation. While the natural patches have become isolated, the corridors between them were diminishing, hence decrease in the connectivity index. Matrix utility index has yielded that Dilek Peninsula Big Meander Delta National Park was subjected to increasing edge effects. Recommendations with regards to the sustainable landscape protection are presented.