Multitemporal analysis (1975-2011) of vegetation changes in urban land uses: Case of the city of Bartin, Turkey

Abstract

Land use and physical planning have an integrative function especially for environmental planning. The most important factor is vegetation for this planning. The purpose of this study was to determine vegetative changes from 1975 to 2011 in Bartin urban area. Vegetation status analysis is the best indicators for understanding the contribution of land use in urban land. In the present study Landsat satellite images data belonging to 1975-1987-2000-2011 were used, data about altitude, slope groups of the Bartin municipal border were obtained. Vegetation change analysis and visual analyses of the study area were studed. According to the results of vegetation status analysis, 537.29 ha of area (14.59 %), lost its vegetation quality between 1975 and 2011. The corresponding ratio of the area included in green areas, which was out of vegetation area, remained at negative 3.33 %. This result showed that urban structuring in the regions out of vegetation was quite high. When the analysis made by using a slope groups map and the results obtained in the study were taken as the basis, the sum of class 1 and 2 farmland where level and gentle slopes lands within the area of study was 1805.96 ha The results showed that vegetation contribution on the ecological quality of study area was decreasing continuously and the effect it had on urban ecosystem was negative.