Although tourism is a sector dependent on environmental quality, it has serious negative impacts on the environment. Therefore, the implementation of sustainable tourism policies is necessary to protect the natural, historical and cultural environment, increase repeat tourist visits and develop competitiveness. The planned development process that began in Turkey in 1963 has given significant importance to the tourism sector. For this reason, 12 Five-Year Development Plans (DP) were examined and evaluated in terms of sustainability. Within this qualitative research model, there have employed document analysis method as a qualitative data collecting technique. Via Maxquda programme, code analysis, code document analysis, two case models, word cloud and similarity metrics methods have been used for data analyzing, in order to analyze the changes and relations between the plans. An examination of the 12 FDPs (1963-2028) reveals that early plans focused more on mass tourism, but did not take environmental impacts and sustainability into account. From the 1990s onwards, the concept of sustainable tourism began to feature more prominently in development plans, with environmental protection, local community participation, and economic and legal sustainability becoming priorities. The Seventh Development Plan, in particular, placed greater emphasis on environmental sustainability issues. According to the Maxqda analysis, environmental (27.3%) and economic (24.2%) sustainability were the most prioritised issues. Consequently, sustainable tourism policies have gained increasing importance in Turkey's development plans. However, concrete action plans addressing environmental issues need to be developed, and all stakeholders must be involved in the process. This study evaluates the place of sustainable tourism policies in planning.
This article examines farmers’ evaluations of water governance and bottom-up policy proposals in the Burdur Lake Basin, one of Türkiye’s most climate-vulnerable regions. Drawing on survey and interview data collected across multiple villages, the study investigates how smallholder farmers assess existing state support mechanisms, including subsidies for fuel, fertiliser, and irrigation, and how they articulate critiques regarding the centralisation of decision-making, inadequate monitoring of groundwater extraction, and limited responsiveness of current policies to local realities. The analysis foregrounds farmers not as passive recipients of environmental stress but as active political agents who generate locally grounded reform agendas. Their proposals include phasing out flood irrigation in favour of drip and sprinkler technologies, strengthening cooperative-based water infrastructures, reducing agricultural input costs, and introducing incentives to sustain rural livelihoods. Rather than measuring the biophysical impacts of climate change or cataloguing adaptation strategies, the article situates these proposals within a political ecology framework that highlights the relational dynamics of power, governance, and agency. By cantering “politics from below,” the study contributes to debates on participatory water governance and argues that incorporating farmers’ critiques and proposals is crucial for building equitable and resilient agricultural futures in semi-arid regions.
This study analyzes the spatial pattern of demographic ageing in Turkey using a bivariate mapping technique. The research is based on the smallest administrative units in the country-villages and neighborhoods-and simultaneously evaluates the elderly population count (numerical ageing) and the proportion of elderly individuals (structural ageing). Utilising 2023 population data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) and applying the bivariate mapping tool in ArcGIS Pro, four ageing categories were identified: low-low (L-L), high-low (H-L), high-high (H-H), and low-high (L-H). The findings indicate that while the elderly are numerically concentrated in urban areas, structural ageing is more pronounced in rural villages and neighbourhoods, where "deep ageing" is observed. Moreover, the spatial patterns of the identified ageing categories are associated with other demographic phenomena, such as internal migration and fertility. The results demonstrate that ageing in Turkey is not a uniform phenomenon but rather one marked by spatial heterogeneity. This underscores the importance of spatial scale and regional differentiation in policymaking. Ultimately, the study contributes to social service planning by making the local dynamics of ageing—often obscured in national aggregates—more visible and strategically actionable.
Since the 1960s, the middle class in T & uuml;rkiye has been encouraged to purchase second homes through cooperatives in coastal regions. Although second-home tourism is a common holiday practice, research on its economic impacts remains limited. This study focuses on the Alt & imath;noluk neighbourhood, a popular destination in the Edremit district of Bal & imath;kesir Province, and investigates the economic effects of second-home tourism on local residents. Data were collected from 30 stakeholders through semi-structured interviews and analysed using content and descriptive analyses. The findings indicate both positive and negative effects, with negative impacts being particularly pronounced. Many local residents have lost traditional livelihoods, such as olive groves and agricultural land, and are now employed mainly in low-paid jobs. Tourism is largely oriented towards domestic visitors, and traditional accommodation facilities, such as hotels, remain underdeveloped. To mitigate these challenges, it is essential to protect and support traditional income sources, establish cooperatives or joint ventures to increase local benefits, and develop small-and medium-sized hotels and guesthouses to reduce dependence on second homes. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of second-home tourism in T & uuml;rkiye and highlights the need for sustainable planning strategies that balance tourism development with the economic and social welfare of local residents. These findings may also offer guidance for other coastal regions with similar tourism dynamics.
The uncertainties of the paleoclimatic conditions and changing characteristics of Eastern Thrace, due to its remarkable geographical location serving as a stage for inter-regional interaction and its importance for cultural history, remain a critical area of scholarly investigation. While analytical research on this topic is limited, scholarly inquiry into past climatic features based on multi-element and mineral analyses and their proportional distributions, organic carbon, and CaCO3 analyses is conspicuously absent from the current literature. This study aims to examine the geochemical indicators of an ancient lake sediment sequence located in the A & scedil;a & gbreve;& imath; P & imath;nar region, 5 km south of the city centre of K & imath;rklareli (T & uuml;rkiye), to reconstruct the past climatic features and changes in the region. To do so, the sedimentary geometry and suitable drilling location of the proxy trap containing the sedimentary data of this paleoenvironment were determined using the electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) method. A total of 147 samples of the drill core are analysed using CaCO3(%), TOC (%), X-ray diffraction (XRD) as well as inductive coupling plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The distinct samples at the reference level were examined through AMS14C dating. The results revealed that rainy and dry periods are defined based on the fluctuations across mineral composition, multi-element analyses, and index calculations; further, the geochemical data yield five different periods characterised by distinctive temperature and humidity conditions. The radiocarbon dating results that the analysed sedimentation was dated between 36,854 +/- 233 years BP. Offering a novel database specific to the region, this study deepens our understanding of the region's historical and civilizational significance.
This study aimed to analyse the changes and trends in the temperature extremes at the Ayval & imath;k, Bal & imath;kesir, Band & imath;rma, Burhaniye, Dursunbey, Edremit, and G & ouml;nen meteorological stations in Bal & imath;kesir province, all of which have long-term meteorological observation records. In this framework, 16 extreme temperature indices such as the maximum value of the daily maximum temperature (TXx), the minimum value of the daily minimum temperature (TNn), summer days (SU25), and tropical nights (TR20) were calculated using the daily temperature data from these stations for the 1975 to 2023 period. The temperature indices were evaluated in three main categories: degrees, days, and percentages. Trends in these extreme temperature indicators, calculated using the RClimdex package, were analysed with the Mann-Kendall trend test and slope estimate. The results indicate significant increases in the warming-related temperature indices at most stations, while the cooling-related indices generally show a decreasing trend. Over the 49-year period, the SU25 index increased by 25 days in Bal & imath;kesir and Edremit, while the TR20 index increased by 65 days in Band & imath;rma and by 58 nights in Ayval & imath;k. The percentage of warm nights (TN90p) increased between 5% and 19% across the stations, whereas the number of cold days (TX10p) decreased by 10% to 13%. These findings demonstrate that climate change has a substantial impact on temperature extremes in Bal & imath;kesir province, with both global climate change and urbanisation contributing to these changes.
This study provides an integrated, multi-temporal assessment of wildfire dynamics in the Manavgat region (Antalya, Turkiye) between 2000 and 2025 by combining Sentinel-2, Landsat 8/9, MODIS, CORINE/ESA land-cover data, and Sentinel-5P atmospheric observations. The main objective is to quantify long-term vegetation degradation, land-use transitions, fire recurrence patterns, and fire-induced atmospheric anomalies while identifying the topographic and anthropogenic factors that shape fire behaviour. The methodology includes satellite-based spectral index analysis (NDVI, NDMI, and NBR), land-cover classification, topographic modelling (slope and aspect), atmospheric pollutant evaluation (CO and AOD), and spatial overlay of ignition centres with human and geomorphological drivers. Results indicate that wildfire frequency and burned area extent increased sharply after 2008, with 2021 representing an extreme megabore (>75,000 ha). Natural forest cover declined by similar to 35-40%, while urban and tourism-related land use nearly tripled, particularly along the Colakli-Ilica-Sorgun-Kizilagac coastal corridor. Fire severity was highest on south-and southwest-facing mid-elevation slopes, where prolonged drought and wind corridors accelerated fuel drying. Sentinel-5P data demonstrated substantial increases in CO and aerosol optical depth during major fire years, confirming significant atmospheric degradation. Post-fire recovery remained weak in most areas, with persistent NDVI/NDMI deficits and slow regeneration, except on shaded, north-facing slopes. This study contributes to the Mediterranean wildfire literature by presenting a unified, multi-source geospatial framework that simultaneously evaluates vegetation loss, land-use fragmentation, topographic control, and atmospheric impacts. Findings highlight that Manavgat has transitioned into a structurally fire-prone landscape, emphasising the need for proactive, data-driven fire management, sustainable spatial planning, and restoration strategies.
Bloodless bullfighting is a traditional display of strength in which bulls instinctively compete horn-to-horn for herd leadership or mating priority. These events, observed with interest by rural communities for centuries, are considered an example of intangible cultural heritage. Initially, they took place as small-scale festivals where bulls wrestled before moving to the plateau. Over time, these festivals gained popularity, transitioned to specialised arenas, and evolved into large-scale events attracting thousands of spectators from neighbouring districts and provinces. Today, they encompass various activities, such as sports competitions, art exhibitions, and concerts, contributing significantly to tourism and the cattle breeding sector. This study investigates the impact of bullfighting festivals on cattle breeding. Conducted using a qualitative research design, data were collected from 17 bull breeders through semi-structured interviews. Content analysis was performed using the MAXQDA software, and findings were visualised. The results indicate that these festivals create new economic opportunities, leading to a shift from low-income traditional cattle breeding to high-value bull breeding specifically for competitions. Additionally, the positive effects of festivals enhance the motivation of rural livestock farmers and strengthen their connection to their work, ultimately supporting the sustainable development of the region.
The Balkans are a geographical region shaped by the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Aegean Sea, the Adriatic Sea, and the Danube and Sava rivers. However, there is no single, universally accepted definition of the Balkans. Global and regional actors, geographers, historians, and various authors all perceive the Balkans differently. The concept of "Balkanisation,"arising from historical, geographical, ethnic, religious, and geopolitical processes, has introduced another layer of definition to the region. This study examines where the Balkan lands, which are partially separated from Europe, begin and end and why there is no common definition of the Balkans. Concrete spatial and historical analysis methods were employed in this study. This study determined that the Balkans do not entirely coincide with the borders of Southeast Europe. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that definitions of the Balkans are based on geographical features and location, historical, ethnic, religious, sociocultural, and developmental factors. The concept of Balkanisation, emerging from the geopolitical interests of various actors in the region, expresses the reality of fragmentation.
This study aims to evaluate the geomorphological characteristics and tourism potential of the E & scedil;me Fairy Chimneys and the ancient site of Mesotimolos, located within the administrative boundaries of E & scedil;me district in the Aegean Region, U & scedil;ak Province. The study area is situated in the upper course of the Hamam Stream, a tributary feeding the Gediz River, between the Ge & ccedil;emek and & Ccedil;& imath;narl & imath; Streams. Within the study area, the presence of fairy chimney formations, ancient rock-cut tombs, and a well-defined badlands topography is particularly significant. The Hamam Stream and its tributaries exhibit active fluvial erosion processes, which continue to shape the landscape today, producing striking fairy chimney landforms. Within the boundaries of the study area, the Mesotimolos Ancient Site stands out as a significant locality both archaeologically and geomorphologically, owing to the high concentration of rock-cut tombs dating to the Lydian period. In this study, 1:25,000-scale topographic maps were digitised to produce thematic maps, including physical geography, slope, aspect, geology, geomorphology, and hiking routes. These maps were verified through field observations and photographic documentation. Declared a first-degree natural protected area in 1983, the conservation of this geomorphosite and the sustainable use of tourism potential without compromising its natural integrity are essential for enhancing regional visibility and awareness.
This study employs a morphological perspective grounded in a historico-geographical approach to analyze the urban development process of the Giresun city center and its surrounding areas. Historical maps, urban plans, and written sources related to Giresun were evaluated within this framework. These data were integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to identify the city's morphological regions. The approach initially developed by M.R.G. Conzen examined changes and transformations in the physical form of the city, enabling detailed spatial inferences. The key morphological components, such as plot sizes, urban blocks, street networks, land use, and development periods, were analyzed using GIS-based datasets. As a result, formations up to the fourth morphological level were identified within the study area. The methodology employed in this research provides a foundation for developing an applicable model for historical urban settlement analysis that can be applied to various contexts. In terms of planning, the morphological regions identified here serve as a foundation for urban development strategies and planning decisions. The outcomes of this study aim to guide planning practices, ensuring that the city's growth aligns with its pre-existing urban layout and contributes to preserving its distinctive historical and morphological character.
This study examines the causes of mountaineering accidents and fatalities on Mount A & gbreve;r & imath; (Ararat), the highest peak in T & uuml;rkiye, and proposes strategies to enhance mountaineering safety. The research was conducted using a qualitative approach based on field observations, interviews, and document analysis. The findings reveal that accidents are primarily driven by four interrelated factors: sudden meteorological changes, unstable topography, inadequate transportation and communication infrastructure, and the limited mountaineering knowledge of local guides. Dense fog and storm-induced hypothermia are among the most common causes of death. Steep and sloping terrain, glacier crevasses, and loose volcanic ground increase risks, while the absence of helicopter landing sites, emergency shelters, and communication systems severely hampers rescue operations during fatal accidents. The lack of standardised training and first aid knowledge among many local guides further heightens the vulnerability of mountaineering tourism on Mount A & gbreve;r & imath;. In addition, climate change has increased the frequency of sudden weather events, rendering high-altitude climbs more dangerous and unpredictable. To mitigate these risks, this study recommends the establishment of meteorological stations, construction of emergency shelters and helicopter landing sites for mountain rescue operations, certification and training of guides, and stronger coordination between public institutions and local stakeholders. As mountaineering tourism on Mount A & gbreve;r & imath; continues to grow rapidly, preventive safety measures are of vital importance to reduce accidents and fatalities and promote the sustainable development of the mountain's tourism potential.
The aim of this research is to model long-term (1984-2024) coastal changes in & Idot;ztuzu Beach and determine the potential risks to the nesting areas of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Sea level rise is among the most important consequences of global climate change, which can cause coastal erosion and have negative effects on coastal ecosystems. Therefore, analyzing coastal change and creating future projections are essential for protecting the ecosystem. Landsat 5 TM and 8 OLI/TIRS satellite images of differentyears and modified normalized difference water index (MNDWI) image normalization techniques were used for coastal change analysis. For the analysis of shoreline changes, statistical analyses with 99% confidence interval, including net shoreline movement (NSM), end point rate (EPR) and linear regression rate (LRR), were carried out using the digital shoreline analysis system (DSAS). The results show that the coastline is continuously retreating and the beach is narrowing significantly. Future projections predict a retreat of 20 m or more on the beach in the next 20 years. This will lead to a gradual shrinkage of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nesting areas. Therefore, it is of great importance to closely monitor and analyze changes in the morphology of the beach. This research provides valuable information for the early detection of coastal changes and the development of protection measures.
Drought is a common meteorological phenomenon that can result in a range of adverse outcomes. The Tigris River Basin (TRB) is located in the arid and semi-arid regions of southwestern Asia, where drought conditions have been observed to intensify. This research aims to understand the relationship between agricultural, hydrological, and meteorological droughts in the basin. To examine meteorological, agricultural, and hydrological droughts, the study employed three indicators: the Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI), derived from Terraclimate precipitation data; the Tasselled Cap greenness index, calculated from Terra-Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) multispectral imagery; and surface water area fluctuations based on the MODIS Terra Daily normalised difference water index (NDWI). Our analysis of monthly SPI data from 2003 to 2022 indicates that approximately half of the months experienced meteorological drought conditions. The occurrence of agricultural drought was found to be associated with both 6-month and 21-month accumulation periods of SPI values, underscoring the intricate interrelationship between precipitation deficits and other influential factors in the context of agricultural drought. Hydrological droughts demonstrated significant correlations with meteorological droughts over accumulation periods of 1, 3and 15 months, indicating a rapid onset but prolonged impact on water resources. Our findings indicate that although the various types of drought are interconnected, their relationships are not straightforward. Further research is required to explore the factors driving these patterns.
One of the most important areas where the dimensions of natural disasters are kept alive and concretised in the memory of the place is disaster-themed museums. Visits to these museums are part of sadness tourism and contribute to raising awareness against natural disasters and keeping public consciousness alive. The aim of this study was to convey the perception of the idea of creating Nurda & gbreve;& imath; open-air Nurda & gbreve;& imath; earthquake museum through the eyes of the main actors. In this context, the museum experiences of those who visited the museum and those within the comments on the subject in the electronic environment, the motives that pushed them to this experience, their satisfaction, types of emotions, and their approaches to the opening of an earthquake-themed museum were examined. Semi-structured interviews with 15 people who visited the museum and 113 electronic comments about the museum on social media channels and internet news were analysed. The findings obtained were subjected to content analysis and inductive coding was performed. The MAXQDA 2024 programme was used for content analysis and data coding. In the study, a main theme as "Nurda & gbreve;& imath; Open Air Earthquake Museum" and six basic categories under this theme were put forward. The points where the perception of the museum differed negatively and positively between the museum visitors and the internet comments and the points where they were in common were determined. In this context, data were analysed and theories were proposed. Accordingly, it was emphasised by the visitors that disaster-themed museums are an important tool in preserving social memory, whereas in social media, it was underlined that it may prevent the long-term preservation of social memory. In this context, it is important that such museums reach a wider audience quantitatively and qualitatively, that they are supported with rich content so that visitors can interact emotionally and intellectually and that they are integrated into educational institutions to raise disaster awareness among students.
In this study, the Climate Change Curiosity Scale (CCCS) developed by Pr & oacute;chniak and Ossowski (2023) was adapted into Turkish. The research was conducted on three separate study groups consisting of 527 prospective teachers. Of the 349 participants in the first study group, 10 were excluded from the dataset as they were outliers. The confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on the remaining 339 participants and it was detected that the unidimensional structure in the original version of the scale was verified and the factor loadings of the items ranged between .33 and .67. Within the scope of concurrent validity, the hypothesis that there was a positive significant relationship between the CCCS scores and the scores obtained from the Climate Change Worry Scale was tested, and the correlation analysis results performed with the data collected from 99 prospective teachers confirmed this hypothesis. The data from the first study group were used for internal consistency reliability estimates and item analysis, and the McDonald's omega and Cronbach's alpha coefficients were found to be .863 and .859, respectively, while the item correlations varied between .33 and .62. Test-retest reliability was examined on the data of 79 prospective teachers, and the intraclass correlation coefficient calculated for this purpose was obtained as .899. These results indicated that the Turkish version of the CCCS is a valid and reliable instrument.
This study quantifies shoreline changes in Lake E & gbreve;irdir between 1984 and 2024 by examining the direction, distance, and rate of change, along with climatic and anthropogenic influences. Landsat satellite images were used to delineate the lake's shoreline using the Modified Normalised Difference Water Index (MNDWI). Shoreline change rates were then calculated using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS), employing metrics such as the End Point Rate (EPR), Linear Regression Rate (LRR), and Net Shoreline Movement(NSM). Results indicated the highest EPRvalue of 61,06 m/yr at transect 2035, while the highest LRR value was 39,78 m/yr. The NSM analysis revealed a maximum positive value of 2444,6 m, indicating significant recession in specific shoreline areas. The key factors driving these changes include climate change and agricultural irrigation practices. Mann-Kendall trend analysis demonstrated a rising trend in maximum temperatures, although precipitation levels showed no significant variation. The expansion of fruit orchards around Lake E & gbreve;irdir has intensified water demand, resulting in a marked decline in water levels. This study highlights the combined impact of climatic shifts and human activities on shoreline dynamics, highlighting the need for sustainable water management strategies to mitigate further environmental degradation.
This research paper investigates the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon in Bulgaria during the extreme heatwave event in July 2024, using high-resolution ECOSTRESS satellite data from the International Space Station. The analysis focuses on mapping and visualising temperature variations across major urban centres in the country. The data cover 26 of 27 capitals of regions, highlighting the pronounced UHI effect in densely populated and industrial areas. The findings reveal that urban regions consistently exhibit higher surface temperatures, particularly during nighttime, compared to surrounding rural and mountainous areas, which benefit from natural cooling effects. Cities like Sofia, Plovdiv, and Stara Zagora show substantial heat retention, whereas cooler profiles are observed in areas like Smolyan, due to higher altitudes and forest cover. The study also relates these results to demographic data from the latest population census. It identifies a concerning trend of population decline in rural regions, while urban infrastructure, promoting sustainable urban development, and focusing on rural revitalisation to mitigate the dual challenges of population loss and heat-related environmental risks. These insights are critical for improving resilience to future heatwaves in Bulgaria.
Neoliberalism, which emerged as a global discourse and was shaped by the foundations of the capitalist economy, has turned space into a political tool at the local scale by developing capital-friendly strategies. This ideology prevailing in Turkey's urbanisation since 1980 has significantly shaped its specific geographies in the last 20 years. Based on the path dependence theory in the urbanisation of neoliberalism, this study analyzes neoliberal practices and hegemonic construction in two cities, one with conservative liberal and the other with social democratic administration practices. The data was gathered from the city actors in Eski & scedil;ehir and Konya through in-depth interviews. Our findings indicate that while the urbanisation process in Konya progresses in a path-dependent manner and localities pave the way for new trajectories, this process in Eski & scedil;ehir progresses in different trajectories, although it is path-dependent and creates its own unique process by drifting away from universal neoliberalism.
Meadows and pastures are among the most important natural botanic resources in the world in terms of diversity and genetic richness. Although meadows and pastures are often first thought of as agricultural resources and foundational areas for livestock, this perspective is rather narrow. Besides being crucial for both cultural and wildlife animals, meadows and pastures also serve as special ecosystem services that prevent erosion, regulate soil temperature, conserve water resources, support beekeeping, and provide a rich genetic reservoir. There are various types of meadows-pastures represented by various species under different climatic conditions around the world. Due to the country's unique geographical position, T & uuml;rkiye's meadowlands offer richness characterised by species from three major phytogeographic regions. In this study, which examines the issue of meadows-pastures from the perspective of Agricultural Geography as T & uuml;rkiye marks its first century, the findings and necessary actions are presented. In this context, the limited literature on the subject has been reviewed, followed by archival studies that have compiled scattered and incomplete statistical data. Following this, over a four-year period, meadowpasture observations were conducted in various locations (Siirt, Bitlis, Diyarbak & imath;r, Tokat, Amasya, Manisa, Tekirda & gbreve;, Hatay) through, discussions with technical teams to address past, present, and future conditions. Ultimately, while significant successful studies have been conducted on T & uuml;rkiye's meadows-pastures with positive outcomes, it has become evident that the country's meadows-pastures need to be rehabilitated through strict policies.
