This research aimed to quantify the regional forest recreation demand and to determine the variables affecting the recreation demand using the regional travel cost approach. Ankara province, which has forest recreation areas such as national parks, nature parks, forest picnicking sites, urban forests and many other outdoor recreation sites in terms of substitution relations were selected as study area. The research covers 16 forest recreation sites, including one national park, five nature parks, seven forest picnicking sites, three urban forests, and other substitute recreation sites. The main research data were collected by on-site and off-site surveys with two questionnaire forms which were conducted 312 actual users in forest recreation areas and 556 potential users residing in the districts of Ankara. Two regional demand functions based on the regional (multiple site-zonal) travel cost approach were estimated for forest recreation activities, mainly picnicking, with multiple regression analyzes. Then second-stage demand curve were drawn with hypothetical increases in the travel costs by using the regional recreation demand functions. This curve derived for all the users shows that the travel cost increases up to ?503 have positive effects on revenues from the forest recreation sites as the arc elasticity values in this range are between 0.01 and 0.75. However, the travel cost increases of ?755 and above results in reducing revenues where the elasticity, where the arc elasticity values are larger than 1.00. Substitutional relation among recreational sites was proven in the research.

Eighteen populations were sampled from the distribution area of Oriental sweet gum. The populations were evaluated by molecular markers method and chosen nine out of 18 population (Bozdag, Çetibeli, Degirmenyani, Günlükbasi, Günnücek, Kiyra, Köycegiz, Yatagan, Yilanli) in terms of genetic diversity. Seeds were collected from 16-27 mother trees of these nine populations. Using seedlings grown with collected seeds, a common garden test was established in 2009. Randomized complete block design with the single-tree plot was used for the common garden test. A number of the block was 25 in the common garden test. A total of 223 families were included in each block, and the fifth-year height, breast height diameter, and crown diameter were measured. Statistically significant differences were found between populations for all the traits. When looking at different groups, Bozdag and Yatagan population were different from other populations in general. There was also a difference between Bozdag and Yatagan populations. The genetic distances between the populations and the neighborhood tree which were formed by genetic distances also showed that the most different populations were Bozdag and Yatagan. The individual heritabilities and their standard errors were 0.54 ± 0.09, 0.62 ± 0.09 and 0.40 ± 0.10 for the height, breast height diameter, and crown diameter respectively, the additive genetic variation coefficients were also 13.4%, 9.1%, and 7.1%, respectively. The findings were evaluated in terms of gene conservation.

The purpose of this study was to find out the effects of seedling density on some morphological characteristics and nutritient of 2+0 aged Taurus cedar (Cedrus libani) seedlings under nursery conditions. Seeds used in this study were collected from Isparta-Kapidag. Some morphological characteristics and needles, stems and root nutrient contents of the seedlings sown in control ( ? 1.5 cm) and 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 cm spacing in 1.2 m wide high seedbeds on 7 rows with 15 cm intervals were identified in Eskisehir Forest Nursery. Randomized parcels experimental design was used in this study and data were assessed using correlation analysis and ANOVA with Duncan test. Seedling density had a significant effect on the seedling height (SH), root collar diameter (RCD), SH/RCD ratio, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, seedling fresh weight, shoot dry weight (SDw), root dry weight (RDw), seedling dry weight (SeDw), SDw/RDw ratio and root percentage (RDw/SeDw ratio). There were significant relationships among the seedling morphological characteristics. Significant differences (P<0.001) were found between spacing in terms of total N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn contents of the seedlings. Total nutrient contents of the seedlings increased depending on the decrase in seedling density. Significant differences were found between different spacing in terms of the nutrient uptake from the soil by seedlings and nutrients uptake from soil was decreased with decreasing seedling densities. All these findings suggest that 2.5 cm (232 seedling/m2) seedling densities in nursery will be suitable for dry-semi dry area afforestation, while 7.5 cm (77 seedling/m2) seedling density is better for semi humid and humid area afforestation.

This study was carried out in the GAP region near Akören village of Sanliurfa-Harran plain. The research study aimed to identify some of the fast-growing broadleaved species that could be grown in buffer areas between agricultural areas and irrigation or drainage channels that are common in the region. In the experiment, Kocabey clone (77/10), Anadolu (TR-56/75) and 92.126 clones of black poplar (Populus nigra), 62.012 (Salix alba) and 84/3 (S. alba) and NZ.1001 (S. matsudana x S. alba) hybrid clone of salix species, Australian origin of Eucalyptus camaldulensis no.7046, euphrates poplar (Populus eupratica Oliv.) of Birecik/Sanliurfa origin and white poplar (P. alba) of Tunceli origin were used. The seedlings were planted in two rows and crosswise in the experimental design. In the 5th year in the experiment, the diameter, height, insect damage and survival percentages were evaluated. According to this, especially the origin of the eucalyptus no. 7046, Kocabey clone of black poplar and Birecik/Sanliurfa origin of the euphrates poplar were found to be successful. Among these species, the Euphrates poplar which was used for the first time in the afforestation activity in the Southeastern Anatolia region showed a better performance than the other species and origins regarding survival percentage (100%) as well as good diameter and height development. In Harran/Sanliurfa region, these 3 species can be used in afforestation activities in areas where irrigation may be possible, especially considering the frost hazard that can be seen in the first years of eucalyptus. Eucalyptus species can be used near the irrigation and similar drainage channels or roadsides with water, starting from the southern part of Viransehir, Akçakale, Ceylanpinar, and Harran located in the south of Sanliurfa province where frost damage is seen less frequently and less severely. Depending on the width of the area and conditions of the region, the plantings can be applied in 1 to 3 rows or as a gallery.

There are 5490 mammal species in the world. Approximately one quarter of them are the bats. The bats use very different habitats to feed, roost and breed. One of the most important habitats, the forests are also used as roosting, resting, breeding and feeding places by bats. In this study, it is aimed to emphasize the importance of the forests for bats and the conservation suggestions regarding the challenges that forests pose for bats. It was stated out that 30 out of 39 bat species in Turkey are directly or indirectly related to the forests. 28 of these 30 species use the forest for feeding and 15 species of them use it as roosting places. It is known that the bats prefer aged trees, loose bark backs, some bird nests, overturned tree logs, tree crevices, cavities and voids formed by various natural processes in the forests. The light traps, detectors, sweep nets and the tracking devices are used to identify the bats and understand their feeding, breeding, hibernation and roosting areas in the forests seasonally. The general threats against the bats in the forests may be summarized as unconscious and uncontrolled tree cuttings, habitat fragmentations, forest fires, chemical pest control, mining activities and establishment of wind turbines. Studies on integration of biological diversity data into the forestry management plans, biological pest control, science-based environmental impact assessment, and public awareness activities are required in order to prevent these problems.

Protected areas are one of the most effective mechanisms for conserving biodiversity on Earth. In order to maintain sustainable management of protected areas and to ensure the continuity of the habitat types and ecological structure it hosts, it is necessary to systematically monitor and evaluate the daily changes of the past. This study aims to evaluate and monitor ecological changes on habitat types within the Karagol-Sahara National Park using patch analysis and fragmentation metrics at patch, class and landscape level. For this purpose, topo maps (1971 and 1984), stand maps (1984 and 2015) and very high resolution digital near-IR aerial photographs (2015) were used as data sources. The 45-year ecological change in the study site was analyzed in the GIS framework by using the fragmentation indices of core area (MCA), patch density (PD), mean patch size (MPS), mean shape index (MSI), mean nearest neighbor distance (MNN), and interspersion and juxtaposition indices (IJI). The results showed that total forested lands (high+ degraded) decreased by 3% from 1971 to 1984, and continued declining by 12% from 1984 to 2015. The habitat loss in forested lands can be explained by a 40% increase in open space areas over the past 45 years as a result of natural disasters. Similarly, settlement and agriculture areas, which were 30 and 221 ha wide in 1984, respectively, have been transformed into mostly degraded and high forested lands and decreased to 20 and 158 ha in 2015. This decline in settlement and agriculture areas has been associated with the abandonment of agricultural areas, especially by the young population, as a result of the migration from the rural to the urban, which began to accelerate in the 1980s. The results of indices used indicate that the most fragmented category within the habitat classes is degraded forests and that is followed by agricultural areas. The MCA / MSI ratio results showed that the edge fragmentation in agricultural areas had the greatest impact on the average core area. The increase in fragmentation can be considered as a negative factor for forestry sector or as an opportunity for some wildlife species that need edge effects in the region. It is concluded that, since the awareness of habitat fragmentation takes many years, indicator species consisting of trees, plants, mammals, birds and reptiles that are unique to each habitat in the region should be identified and habitat losses should also be monitored with the help of these species for an effective management within the protected areas.

The life cycle assessment (LCA) is a powerful technique to investigate the environmental impacts of current and new products and production processes. In this research, the LCA of nanocellulose composite panels (NCPs) produced using freeze-drying techniques were studied. The environmental effects of the final product and the production method were reported. The nanocellulose is a bio-based raw material that can be obtained from a variety of natural sources and used in building, construction, packaging, pharmaceutical, and insulation industry. The wood-based cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) produced using mechanical grinding, and the industrial corn-starch (Ethylex 2025) were used as raw materials in this study. The n-Dodecenyl Succinic Anhydride (DDSA) and boric acid (BA - ((B(OH)3) - 99.94 % pure) were used as treatment materials. As a result of this explanatory research, the cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) produced using mechanical process were found environmentally friendly as expected. The production process, freeze-drying technique, was not found eco-friendly in laboratory scale. However, using solar energy in full-scale production can decrease the energy consumption up to 76% and would make the process eco-friendlier. The nanocellulose composite panels (NCPs) can be produced using the freeze-drying technique. The findings of this study showed that freeze-drying technique would be feasible and nature-friendly in full-scale production using renewable energy sources.

The aim of this study was to investigate extraction yield and soluble sugar composition of asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus Brot.) tubers. The tubers of asphodel were extracted with enzymatic extraction methods (150 µL, 300 µL and 450 µL added Gluko-Amilaz, a-Amilaz and simultaneously a-Amilaz & Gluko-Amilaz enzyme), deionized water extraction methods (60 min, 90 min, 120 min and 180 min extraction time) and acidic extraction methods (0,8 M and 1,6 M concentration with acetic and sulfuric acid). The sugar compositions of tubers were determined by high performance liquid chromatography and refractive index detector (HPLC-RID). The extraction yields were also detected by gravimetric method. The glucose, galactose, xylose, fructose and sucrose were used as reference compounds. The calibration curves were plotted based on linear regression analysis of the integrated peak areas (x) and versus concentrations (y, µg/ml) in the reference solutions. All results were evaluated as concentration (µg/ml) for every extraction method. Various types of extraction caused differences in both yields and sugar units. Generally, extraction yields were determined about 81-96% for all extraction methods. However, the highest extraction yield was found 96% for deionized water unlike the ones added enzyme or acid. At the same time, results showed that glucose, fructose, mannose and sucrose were found in tubers in all methods. The main concentrations of sugar in the tuber were identified as 2.510 µg/ml for sucrose in enzymatic method, 50.144 µg/ml for glucose, 21.066 µg/ml for fructose, 1.043 µg/ml for xylose and 2.180 µg/ml for galactose in acidic methods. Nevertheless, the lowest amount of glucose and fructose were found in deionized water extraction method at 180 min. The results indicated that sucrose amount had higher concentration in some extraction methods due to hydrolysis of carbohydrates in oligomer or polymer form. Moreover, glucose and fructose were also determined higher amounts in some extraction methods due to hydrolysis of sucrose. It can be understood that when the extraction conditions are more extreme, all sugar unit may convert to hydroxymethylfurfural.