Abstract:
One of the most significant differences between underdeveloped and developing countries is the efficient use of resources. Another important characteristic is the spread of economic development throughout the society. Improving the life quality and economic level in those living in rural areas should be seen as an important goal to ensure development. Turkey has been experiencing a rapid development process. However, the difference between regions in terms of development level is one of the greatest obstacles before development as a country. Development in rural areas is just as important for underdeveloped and developed countries as it is for developing countries. The structure of the rural in Turkey has been changing rapidly since 1980’s. While 65-70% of the population used to live in rural areas, it is quite the opposite today. 65% of the country’s population lives in cities. This has caused serious economic and social problems in cities.
In Turkey, there are 3.1 million families/establishments living in rural areas and occupied with agriculture and husbandry. Those who live in forest villages have a living environment which is intertwined with forest areas. They have to engage in production in infertile and highly fragmented areas since they are mostly located in upper parts of basins. Forest villages constitute about half of rural areas in the country. In other words, one of every two villages is a forest village in rural areas. Thus, it is necessary to give forest villages priority in rural development studies. Both forestry-related studies and other rural development studies must firstly focus on forest villages.
Socio-economic conditions of forest villages show variations between regions. In order to conduct successful rural development studies on forest villages, it is necessary to determine region-specific socio-economic conditions of these villages. Implementation of effective rural development projects is only possible by doing so.
The purpose of this study is to determine socio-economic structures of forest villages located in the Western Black Sea Region, and reveal their development conditions and possibilities. The study involves forest villages in provinces of Bolu, Bartın, Karabük, Kastamonu, Sinop, and Zonguldak, which constitute the Western Black Sea Region of Turkey.
113 villages located in the Western Black Sea Region were included in the sample in the Material and Method section of the study. Face-to-face surveys were applied to 384 families/establishments in these villages to obtain area-specific data. The data was assessed based on 22 variables using the multiple correlation analysis and the factor analysis.
As a result, relationships between variables such as population, population growth rate, migration, agricultural area availability, bovine animal availability, and total fallow area were determined based on the demographic characteristics of these forest villages. Factors which stand out for the development of forest villages located in the Western Black Sea Region were collected under 7 groups. It was found to be necessary to consider the distribution of the population in terms of age groups; assess bovine breeding, fallow areas, and forage crops; improve production systems related to greenhouse cultivation and dwarf fruit cultivation; and support villages which are located in the center of their respective basin in terms of rural industry.
Keywords: Forest villages, rural development, factor analysisJournal Section | Articles |
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Authors | |
Publication Date | February 24, 2018 |
Submission Date | February 19, 2018 |
Published in Issue | Year 2018 Volume: 6 Issue: 1 |
E-mail: Hbarist@gmail.com
ISSN: 2147-7493
Eurasian Journal of Forest Science © 2013 is licensed under CC BY 4.0