INSPIRE 2016 CONFERENCE Directorate General for Protection of Natural Assets Directorate General of Geographical Information Systems Route to Biotope Data Standardization for the Protected Areas in Turkey Özlem AKSOY, Biologist D.Yıldırım BAYAR, Urban Planner September 27th, 2016 Barcelona, SPAIN
Prolog According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, protected areas are the cornerstones of biodiversity conservation; they maintain key habitats, provide refugee, allow for species migration and movement, and ensure the maintenance of natural processes across the landscape.
Better Managed Connected Governed Financed Protected Areas Protected areas are recognized as the key to both mitigation and adaptation responses to climate change
During the Environmental Protection Agency for Special Areas governance term (1989 2011), biodiversity researches and species & habitat monitoring projects were carried out in Special Environmentally Protected Areas (SEPAs, registered based on Barcelona Convention) using spatial data followed by biotope mapping projects particularly in Lake Tuz SEPA, Belek SEPA, Delta of Göksu SEPA.
In 2011, Decree No: 644 delivered the task and responsibility of Conservation Sites based on Law on the Conservation of Cultural and Natural Property (No: 2863, Date: 23.07.1983) and for the first time, these Conservation Sites are being reassessed by 22 Ecologically Based Scientific Research Projects, in 21 administrative regions at the whole country level.
SPECIAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AREAS (SEPA) (16 SEPAs countrywide); In SEPAs (First step); Biological Diversity (BD) Researches (for 2 years including geological and landscape studies) are carried out for each SEPA in order to define the areas and with the data obtained from these researches the data inventory becomes completed. In addition to these researches, also socio researches are carried out and finally analyzed with the biodiversity data to achieve a synthesise. Synthesise process: In this process, BD data are the prioritized main layer used for spatial plans. As a result of this synthesise process, zoning is actualized such as; protection, conservation, settlement, industry, tourism, agriculture & farming etc.
PLANNING & BIOTOPE STUDIES IN SEPAs; According to the size of the SEPAs, Environmental Spatial Plans scaled to 1/25.000 or 1/50.000 and the Plan Decisions are prepared and registered as a result of synthesise process (second step). In three SEPAs as a third step for determining and correct management of the areas, Biotope Mapping studies are realized; Belek SEPA, Lake Tuz SEPA, Göksu Delta SEPA. In two of these three SEPAs; in Belek Sepa and Lake Tuz SEPA results of the Biotope Mapping studies are transferred to Environmental Spatial Plans and Plan Decisions, so the Spatial Plans reached to their actual status.
Examples of Biotope Mapping Studies in Belek SEPA Belek SEPA Biotop Map (EUNIS sınıflandırması) (Tezel & Durduran, UZAL-CBS 2014) Belek SEPA Utter Protection Zones (Tezel & Durduran, UZAL-CBS 2014). (Green is used for the most significant zones while the yellow and pink are showing the less and the least significant zones, respectively.)
MOTTO FOR BIOTOPE MAPPING STUDIES Ecologically, a species can not be isolated from its surrounding. It is not possible to protect or conserve species by themselves; it is needed to approach with their surroundings.
From Lake Tuz Special Environmental Protection Area(SEPA) Biodiversity and Species & Habitat Monitoring Projects (2004 2010) Phoenicopterus ruber
From Lake Tuz Special Environmental Protection Area(SEPA) Biodiversity and Species & Habitat Monitoring Projects (2004 2010) Phoenicopterus ruber
From Gölbaşı Special Environmental Protection Area (SEPA) Biodiversity and Species & Habitat Monitoring Projects (2008 2010)
Centaure tchihatcheffii (fam. Asteraceae) (Local endemic to Gölbaşı SEPA) From Gölbaşı Special Environmental Protection Area (SEPA) Biodiversity and Species & Habitat Monitoring Projects (2008 2010)
From Gölbaşı Special Environmental Protection Area (SEPA) Biodiversity and Species & Habitat Monitoring Projects (2008 2010)
From Gölbaşı Special Environmental Protection Area(SEPA) Biodiversity and Species & Habitat Monitoring Projects (2008 2010) Lythrum salicaria Aythya ferina Motacilla flava Circus aeraginusus Salvia wiedemannii
From Gölbaşı Special Environmental Protection Area(SEPA) Biodiversity and Species & Habitat Monitoring Projects (2008 2010) Martes martes Mustela nivalis Vulpes vulpes Spermophilus xanthophyrym
From Gölbaşı Special Environmental Protection Area (SEPA) Biodiversity and Species & Habitat Monitoring Projects (2008 2010)
CONSERVATION SITES ACTUAL STATUS Conservation Sites based on Law on the Conservation of Cultural and Natural Property (No: 2863, Date: 23.07.1983) are digitalized and published for the Ministry s use by the system called SAYS. NEW ERA FOR THE CONSERVATION SITES: FROM TRADITIONAL CONSERVATION TO THE EVIDENCE BASED CONSERVATION The experience from SEPAs are going to be transferred to the Conservation Sites by the Ecologically Based Scientific Research Projects compose of biological diversity, ecological, geological and landscape subtopics in order to provide the actual status of these sites which have never been evaluated in that manner before.
NEW ERA IN THE CONSERVATION SITES In 2011, Decree No: 644 delivered the task and responsibility of Conservation Sites based on Law on the Conservation of Cultural and Natural Property (No:2863, Date: 23.07.1983)and for the first time, these Conservation Sites are reassessing by 22 Ecologically Based Scientific Research Projects, in 21 administrative regionsatthe whole country level (for one year). Currently the Conservation Sites are classified as; 1st Degree Conservation Site, 2nd Degree Conservation Site and 3rd Degree Conservation Site according to their structuring status without an ecological research. After the completion of Ecologically Based Scientific Research Projects, current sites will be evaluated due to IUCN s protection categories; Strictly Conserved Sensitive Sites( IUCN Category 1a), Naturally Qualified Protection Sites ( IUCN Category 1b), Sustainable Protection and Controlled Use Sites (IUCN Category 6).
CONSERVATION SITES EFFECTIVE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS After the completion of the Projects there will be Ecologically Based Scientific Research Reports are going to be obtained for each Conservation Site, which are numbered approximately to 3000 sites. In these reports, geospatial data will also be obtained including the target features such as species, habitat types and land cover classes. These data are going to be used for determining the actual & final conservation status, external borders and spatial planning process via analyses of these data. Following these steps, biotope mapping studies and strategy for Conservation Sites and Action Plans are planned to be started.
In order to determine the actual conservation areas and their borders, there is an absolute necessity to determine the spatial distribution of target species and habitat types.
As a result of these projects it is targeted to achieve biodiversity inventory, geological identity and landscape characteristics obtained from geospatial data.
There were some incompatibilities which have been experienced on data standardization while and after these biotope mapping and other research projects; therefore it is aimed to diminish and even eliminate those incompatibilities that occurred because of unstandardized data by using standards compatible with INSPIRE Directive, in the oncoming steps and after the Ecologically Based Scientific Research Projects are concluded.
Biotope Mapping Compliance Besides, Turkish National Geographical Information System (TUCBS) standards define; Risk Protection Regions Biodiversity Plan Regions As Thematic Data Themes, these cover the below mentioned INSPIRE data themes. Thus the priority would be on TUCBS standards in order to provide National SDI standards and comply with INSPIRE. Through mapping of biotopes, many of the data themes would be used. However, the main data themes driven by INSPIRE Directive that shall be considered are; Protected sites (Annex1) Area management, restriction regulation zones (Annex III) Biogeographical regions (Annex III) Habitat & biotopes (Annex III) Species distribution (Annex III)
Theme Protected Sites is included in Annex I, which means that it is considered as reference data. There are strong interdependencies between this and some Themes listed in Annex III like Area Management/ Restriction/ Regulation Zones and Reporting Units; Bio geographical Regions; Habitats and Biotopes and Species Distribution. TUCBS Habitats & Biotopes Area Management, Restriction Regulation Zones and Reporting Units Protected Sites Bio geographical Regions Species Distribution
The INSPIRE Directive defines a Protected Site as an Area designated or managed within a framework of international, Community and Member States' legislation to achieve specific conservation objectives [Directive 2007/2/EC]. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) a Protected Site is an area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means.
The definition of the INSPIRE spatial data theme Area Management/Restriction/ Regulation Zones and Reporting Units (AM theme) reflects the heterogeneous nature of the domains and topics that could be covered by this INSPIRE spatial data theme.
Bio geographical region is defined as an area in which there are relatively homogeneous ecological conditions with common characteristics. These areas with homogeneous ecological conditions could be based on physio geomorphological traits, on vegetation cover, on climate regions, etc. The theme of Bio geographical Regions is included under Annex III of the Directive. There is a strong linkage between this theme and the Annex I theme of Protected Sites and indeed between a number of other themes in Annex III particularly Habitats and Biotopes and Species Distribution.
INSPIRE Directive defines Habitats and Biotopes as geographical areas characterised by specific ecological conditions, processes, structure, and (life support) functions that physically support the organisms that live there. They include terrestrial, fresh water and marine areas distinguished by geographical, abiotic and biotic features, whether entirely natural or semi natural.
INSPIRE Directive defines Species Distribution as geographical distribution of occurrence of animal and plant species aggregated by grid, region, administrative unit or other analytical unit.
Standards have been determined with TUCBS according to the necessities of these definitions. By the biotope mapping studies in Turkey, TUCBS will provide the national level standardisation in compliance with INSPIRE data themes.
"Technical Assistance for Capacity Building in Horizontal Sector for the Implementation of INSPIRE Directive Project. Besides, General Directorate of Geographical Information Systems conducts "Technical Assistance for Capacity Building in Horizontal Sector for the Implementation of INSPIRE Directive Project. Activity sets of the Project include preparation of spatial data inventory of pilot areas (Kayseri and Muğla Metropolitan Municipalities, Elazığ Municipality and Pendik Municipality) as well as preparation of sample data sets regarding to all INSPIRE data themes. SEPAs in Muğla Metropolitan Municipality area are determined as pilot within the Project and sample data sets will be produced by relevant data themes.
Conclusion Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation has conducted many projects related to Biotope Mapping by gaining a wide experience and this experience is also increasing with the ongoing studies. The processes define the road map and setting the necessity of implementing a standardised structure. TUCBS standards and "Technical Assistance for Capacity Building in Horizontal Sector for the Implementation of INSPIRE Directive Project maintain a key role in the biotope mapping studies.
September 27th, 2016 Barcelona, SPAIN INSPIRE 2016 CONFERENCE Directorate General for Protection of Natural Assets Directorate General of Geographical Information Systems Thank You Özlem AKSOY, Biologist ozlem.aksoy1@csb.gov.tr D.Yıldırım BAYAR,Urban Planner