Agrarian and Wetland Areas Under Metropolitan Threats: Learning from the Case of Inciralti, Izmir (Turkey)

OpenAlex İngilizce

The aim of the study is to determine the Land use/land cover (LULC) changes and conversions in Inciralti zmir (Turkey), and the fragmentation of these land uses between 1996 and 2018. Aerial photographs and Quickbird satellite imagery were used to obtain data. Aerial photographs were georectified using 1: 25,000 scaled topographic maps. The feature (vector) boundary of the study area was used to subset aerial photographs and Quickbird satellite image. LULC classes were defined according to Coordination of Information on the Environment (CORINE) LULC classes. The defined LULCs were digitized. Between 1996 and 2018, the highest conversion rate among agricultural areas occurred in permanently irrigated land with 41.43%, and the highest conversion among wetlands were in inland marshes with 65.19%. Between 1996 and 2018, the LULC with the highest increase in the number of patches was coastal lagoons with 300%. Research data shows that there has been a great change, conversion and fragmentation process in construction sites, wetlands and agricultural areas in Inciralti between 1996 and 2018. Change, conversion, and fragmentation of LULCs have damaged the natural and cultural structure of Inciralti. In order to stop this damage, filling of wetlands and the construction on agricultural areas in Inciralti should be prevented.