Evaluation of Zoning Plans with Landscape Ecology Approach: The Case of Nigde City

• Main Authors: Rifat OLGUN, Tahsin YILMAZ
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Suleyman Demirel University 2019-12-01
• Series: Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi
• Subjects: landscape ecology; landscape structure; landscape metrics; zoning plan; nigde
• Online Access: http://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/868088

As in the world, rapid population growth in Turkey necessitates the growth of urban settlements. This growth in settlement areas causes the deterioration of the ecological structure in and around the cities. Therefore, zoning plans that have an important place in the growth and shaping of cities are important for the sustainability of the ecological structure of cities. Taking into account the existing ecological structure in the zoning plans prepared in accordance with the legislation will reduce the impact of urban growth on the ecological structure. In this context, the aim of the study is to evaluate the zoning plans that play an important role in shaping the urban growth and spread depending on population growth by using landscape metrics with landscape ecology approach. In the research conducted for the city of Nigde, the database of the research area was created in the ArcGIS program. The land cover / land use types in the existing (with satellite imagery of 13 July 2017) and zoning plan are grouped according to the European Union Corine Land Classification System I-II level. Analyzes of the obtained groups were performed using Fragstats 4.2 software using specific landscape metrics (class level 7 and landscape level 1). As a result, although a large number of green areas have been planned in the zoning plans, the decrease in the average patch size due to the increasing construction over time will adversely affect the ecological structure of the city.