Serkan Gürlük

EVALUATION OF AN INTEGRATED WETLAND MANAGEMENT PLAN: CASE OF ULUABAT (APOLLONIA) LAKE, TURKEY

Wetlands have global, regional, and local values in terms of hydrologic, biogeochemical, and ecological criteria. Especially in developing countries such as Turkey, a continued unsustainable development process, which degrades nature, has also been threatening wetlands. The main problem is the relationship between the stakeholders and local economic interests, which is often conflicting. International agreements such as the Ramsar Convention are key actions for solving these problems in terms of wise-use principles. In this study, Uluabat Integrated Wetland Management Plan, which was prepared under Ramsar principles, has been evaluated as a case study. Uluabat is one of the most important wetlands, not only because of its regional and local usage, but also its global merits such as serving as a wintering and feeding area for some endangered species. The investigated plan is important for Turkey as a pioneer study. It can be seen as a framework rather than a comprehensive plan. It needs not only some revision in its content but also some additional activities, such as monitoring and evaluation. Integrating it with a regional rural development project is needed in order to achieve proposed objectives.

Economics of limiting congestion in urban forest recreation areas

Abstract This paper presents the results of a contingent valuation for evaluating environmental quality in the Atatürk Urban Forest of Bursa, Turkey. The environmental quality parameter under investigation at this recreational site is congestion. Congestion is an important externality having impacts on visitors’ welfare at this site. Two distinct models were employed in this study. A qualitative response model was employed to find covariate effects depending on shifting congestion levels. The other model used was the survivor model. The survivor model brings new insights to congestion pricing literature to find the mean willingness to pay for shifting congestion levels changing from level-I to level-V. It is a useful method for congestion pricing when covariate impacts are not important for the analyst. According to the survivor model results, respondents evaluated congestion level-I, which is the lowest congestion level, with an amount of USD 32.08 per visit. The value of congestion level-V, which is highest congestion level, was USD 4.34 per visit. If these amounts are aggregated into total visit rates, they correspond to USD 2,245,600 and USD 303,800 for congestion levels-I and V, respectively. Differences between these values are welfare losses of this public good. The outcomes of this paper may help policy-makers resolve environmental management issues.

Global Food Security Index’s Reflections to Balkan Countries

Abstract Policies for ensuring food security have gained considerable importance in recent years. The policy success of the countries at this lower level is very important in ensuring food safety. It is also important to determine where the countries take place in food security. In determining the success of countries The Global Food Security Index (GFSI) takes on an important role. In order to prepare the index different subsections of food security such as food availability, food accessibility, food quality and safety are calculated using different weights. This index is re-prepared every year and allows the user to make changes using different weights and calculating rankings again. It will also include recommendations on agriculture and food policy that can be taken to improve their places in the food security index. In this study, an analysis of GFSI for 2017 will be made for Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria. It also includes recommendations on agriculture and food policy of countries for these countries to increase their rankings on the GFSI.