Evaluation of spatiotemporal land cover changes of Beysehir and Burdur lakes due to landscape planning

Abstract

Lakes are very important geographical formations and water resources for the continuity of life. These areas have various landscape characters and intersections of these characters. Therefore, they contain important biodiversity and are rich in endemic species. Besides their visual richness, the lake and its surroundings have hosted many communities throughout history due to the efficient conditions it has. Therefore, Lakes offer a cultural spectrum as well as the natural riches they contain. However, in today's conditions, the value of these areas is not sufficiently known and these areas are rapidly destroyed and used in an inattentive manner. With the influence of the increasing population, changing needs, and political conditions, lakes dry up rapidly and our water resources are under threat. In addition, unplanned urbanization, unreconstructed megaprojects, and destructive interventions for economic and political interests cause the lakes to dry out. Especially in our country, it is seen that many lakes have dried up and entered the drying process. The subject of the article, Burdur, and Beyşehir Lake are also examples of endangered lakes. Beyşehir and Burdur Lakes have critical importance for Turkey, and two take place in the Great Lakes Region. These lakes have different water and landscape characteristics and have created their ecological values. Lake Burdur is Turkey's 6th largest lake and exists on the Ramsar list. Lake Beyşehir is Turkey's 3rd largest lake and a national park. Besides being very important water resources, they offer biological and cultural diversity. They host a large number of living species and harbor endemic species. In addition, the social impacts of the lakes can not be ignored. Likewise, they have been home to many civilizations throughout history and have witnessed the events and their effects. Unfortunately, these natural, social, and cultural values to be read have been under threat for a long time. Land use, economic activities carried out in their environment, disproportionate balance of protection use, damage the water quality, amount of water, lake ecosystem, and all the values it carries. In this study, the characteristics of the two lakes (Burdur and Beyşehir Lake) and their surroundings, which are in close geographical locations and located in important conservation areas, were investigated in micro and macro scales, landscape characteristics were revealed and temporal-spatial comparisons were made. In the study conducted on a macro scale, the factors affecting these two threatened lakes were identified, examined, and compared. For this, research was carried out on the two selected lakes and their surroundings, paying attention to the fact that they are in the same geographical regions. The use of the land around the lakes, landscape characteristics, and the resources that feed the lakes and the population are also taken into account, and the parameters affecting the lake are revealed. By paying attention to the determined parameters, the boundaries of the area to be studied were decided. Working within the areas of 20 kilometers from the borders of the lakes was deemed appropriate for the macro scale. Environmental plans, Corine maps, and ArcGIS 10.3 were used to express the parameters determined within the appropriate boundary with numerical values. Environmental plans and Corine maps were overlapped, parameters determined by ArcGIS were processed on the obtained maps and numerical values were reached. With the numerical data obtained, the landscape characteristics of the lakes and their surroundings were defined, the factors affecting the lake were revealed and the opportunity for comparison was provided. The parameters whose numerical values were obtained were tabulated according to the lakes. The landscape characteristics of the selected lakes and their surroundings and their strengths and weaknesses, threats, and opportunities that affect water availability are presented. Thus, a SWOT analysis was performed for both lakes. With the data obtained, the general conditions of the lakes concerning each other were evaluated, and information was obtained in terms of lakes and landscape characteristics. Spatio-temporal analyzes were deemed appropriate for the micro-scale study. Using the Google Earth Pro program, cross-sections of both lakes and their surroundings were taken from different angles. With the help of these sections, the boundaries to be studied at a micro-scale were determined. In addition, Corine maps and aerial images of Burdur and Beyşehir lakes and their surroundings for the years 1990 and 2018 were obtained. In the light of these data, a comparison of the past and present use of the lakes and the area around them has been made and temporal-spatial landscape changes have been revealed. The studies were supported by 3D visuals of the lakes and topography analysis. The temporal and spatial changes of the lakes were discussed with the obtained data, and comments were made on the factors affecting the lakes. Also, the future status of the lakes was discussed by looking at the changes. Situations that may be encountered in the future have been foreseen and some landscape strategies have been developed for this. This study aims to discuss the current situation of the lakes, compare them with each other and with the past, interpret the information obtained and create landscape strategies.