Peripherial ecological degradation in Istanbul

Abstract

Over the last three decades, in particular, the population of Istanbul has increased dramatically from 3 million in 1970 to 10 million in 2000. Moreover, according to present trends, by 2015, the estimated population will increase to 23 000 000. Alarmingly, the existing population which makes up about 15% of the national population is settled on only 7% of the national surface area. Nevertheless, the province of Istanbul produces approximately 20% of the national income and 50% of the total national importation and exportation value. This uncontrolled growth has caused a very high destruction of the peripheral natural resources which also directly has huge effects on life quality. According to the Istanbul Metropolitan Master Plan Report published in 2006, during the last three decades, approximately 60 000 ha of the agricultural land of the classes of I, II, III and 110 000 ha of the agricultural land of the classes of IV, VI, VII were lost. On the other hand, in the last 30 years, approximately 170 000 ha of agricultural land were used inappropriately. In the same report, the misuse of forest area defined by national regulations as 2B area reached to 16 000 ha. Equating to 1/3 of the total national 2B areas. In the same period, the loosen area from the natural pastures and meadows reached to 14 000 ha corresponding to 80% of the decrease. The calculated decreases from the forest, agriculture and meadows can be attributed to settlement (inhibiting and industrialised area) usage and transportation, mainly due to the lack of metropolitan management and master plans. The decreases in forest and agricultural areas were victimised for the settlement and industrial areas and transportation because of disability of metropolitan management and master plans. However, in the actual case, 47% of the provincial surface area is still forest area. From the objective of the use and protection balance, the threshold analysis concerning the peripheral natural resources during the master plan studies of IMP reflects a major priority.