A holistic approach in analyzing the landscape potential: Porsuk Dam Lake and its environs, Turkey

Abstract

The planning of land resources without integrated decisions, in other words, to use a piece of land other than according to its ecosystem process can cause the land to loose its natural features and it does not provide the expected benefits. In this context, ecosystem integrity to organize land-use, and even more going forward, the system hierarchy on the ecosystem in terms of the integrity of the landscape and giving way to the potential of usage of integrity, have become necessities. In physical planning studies, when considering the landscape main objectives, this potential offered us the protection of vital resources which could be transferred to the next generation. Porsuk Dam Lake and its environs have been the case of this study because of the danger of unplanned land-use, although it has natural and cultural landscape values. Land and climate characteristics, according to the plastic development of the vegetation and hydrological structures for wildlife habitat diversity and its rich possibilities of life, have formed the potential of this natural landscape area. On the other hand, Phrygia Valley, having a rich cultural history by being the landlord of different cultures, has comprised the cultural landscape values that need to be protected. To calculate the inventory of natural and cultural landscape elements of the lake and its environs is the first phase of the study. The results of the inventory work will determine a base to the synthesis phase to protect the valuable landscape. Finally, land-use plans for the case area have been developed to be used for protecting the landscape potential and, thus, to be able to leave the existing conditions to future generations. The holistic approach, which is a guideline for this study, has been aimed as a comprehensive reference source for the future implementations and other similar studies. © 2009 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.