Assessment of Road-Induced Landscape Fragmentation and Implications for Landscape Planning: the case of İzmir Province

Year 2019, Volume: 9 Issue: 4, 699 - 709, 15.10.2019

Ebru Ersoy

https://doi.org/10.17714/gumusfenbil.544540

Cited By: 3

Abstract

Roads are considered as a major environmental
problem and one of the main causes of biodiversity loss and landscape
fragmentation. Recent evidence suggests that whilst roads generally lead to
increasing landscape fragmentation; they also affect the structure and
functioning of landscapes through the pollution caused by the vehicles and the
acceleration of settlements around road networks. This paper explores the
relationship between the presence of roads and landscape fragmentation in the
central districts of Izmir province, using landscape metrics at class and
landscape level. CORINE land cover (CLC2012) dataset together with Urban Atlas
2012 (UA2012) were used for the delineation of land cover map with and without
roads. The analyses were performed in FRAGSTATS 4.2 and ArcGIS 10.5.1. Results
illustrated an increasingly fragmented urban landscape with respect to
increasing road existence. However, it is important to bear in mind the
possible limitations of some landscape metrics when evaluating fragmentation
caused by roads. On the other hand, the results of this study emphasise that
the number of patches (NP), area-weighted mean patch area (AREA_AM), edge
density (ED) and effective mesh size (MESH) seem to be much more robust
landscape metric when measuring landscape fragmentation. The paper concludes
with important implications and recommendations with a view to informing
landscape planning practices for creating opportunities around roads and road
networks to support biodiversity and enhance the lives of people. For example,
as a practical manner, the creation of roadside vegetation and vegetated verges
can reduce the fragmentation effect of road networks and enhance landscape
connectivity rather than its fragmentation effect. The care and regular
maintenance of these areas will also play an important role in improving
landscape quality and promoting biodiversity.

Keywords

Fragmentation, Land cover, Landscape metrics, Roads, Spatial pattern

Yollardan Kaynaklanan Peyzaj Parçalanmasının Belirlenmesi ve Peyzaj Planlama Açısından Değerlendirmeler: İzmir İli Örneği

Abstract

Yollar, büyük bir çevre sorunu ve
biyolojik çeşitlilik kaybı ile peyzaj parçalanmasının ana nedenlerinden biri
olarak kabul edilmektedir. Yapılan araştırmalar, yolların genellikle artan
peyzaj parçalanmasına yol açtığını; ayrıca araçların neden olduğu kirlilik ve
yol ağları etrafındaki yerleşimlerin hızla artması yoluyla peyzajların yapısı
ve işleyişini de etkilediklerini ortaya koymaktadır. Bu çalışma, İzmir ili
merkez ilçelerinde yolların varlığı ile peyzaj parçalanması arasındaki ilişkiyi
sınıf ve peyzaj düzeyinde peyzaj metriklerini kullanarak incelemektedir. Çalışmada,
CORINE arazi örtüsü haritası (CLC2012) ve Urban Atlas2012 (Kent Atlası2012)
(UA2012) ile birlikte kullanılarak, çalışma alanına ilişkin detaylı yol
verisinin içerildiği ve içerilmediği arazi örtüsü haritaları kullanılmıştır.
Analizler FRAGSTATS 4.2 ve ArcGIS 10.5.1 yazılımlarında gerçekleştirilmiştir.
Sonuçlar artan yol varlığının kent peyzajında artan parçalanmaya sebep olduğunu
göstermektedir. Ancak, yolların neden olduğu parçalanmanın değerlendirilmesinde
bazı peyzaj metriklerinin etkinliklerinin olası kısıtlılıklarını göz önünde
bulundurmak gerekmektedir. Diğer yandan, bu çalışmanın sonuçları, peyzaj
parçalanmasını değerlendirirken yama sayısı (NP), alan ağırlıklı ortalama yama
alanı (AREA_AM), kenar yoğunluğu (ED) ve etkin ağ boyutunun (MESH)  peyzaj parçalanmasına ilişkin daha sağlıklı
değerler sunduğunu vurgulamaktadır. Çalışma, biyolojik çeşitliliğin
desteklenmesi ve insanların yaşam kalitesinin iyileştirilmesi bakımından yollar
ve yol ağları çevresinde fırsatlar yaratmak için peyzaj planlama uygulamalarına
ışık tutabilecek bazı önemli önerilerle sonlandırılmıştır. Örneğin, pratik
anlamda, yol ağları çevresinde yol kenarı bitki örtüsü ve bitkilendirilmiş
banketler, yol ağlarının parçalanma etkisini azaltabilir ve peyzaj bağlantılılığını
arttırılabilir. Ayrıca, bu alanların korunması ve düzenli bakımı peyzaj
kalitesinin arttırılmasında ve biyolojik çeşitliliğin desteklenmesinde de
önemli rol oynayacaktır.

Keywords

Parçalanma, Arazi örtüsü, Peyzaj metrikleri, Yollar, Mekansal yapı

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