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Journal of Applied Sciences

Year: 2004 | Volume: 4 | Issue: 1 | Page No.: 164-170
DOI: 10.3923/jas.2004.164.170
A Naturalness Quality Assesment; In the Case of Spil Mountain, Turkey
Serif Hepcan and Cigdem Coskun

Abstract: This study was undertaken to asses the naturalness quality of the Spil Mountain National Park, Turkey, through using four naturalness indicators. In this process the study area was separated into 1 km x 1 km (survey) grid cells. Total naturalness quality (TNQ) values were calculated by addition of the four indicators, weighting the biophysical naturalness and uniqueness by a factor 2, in order to increase their contributions in total naturalness quality. Results indicated that total naturalness quality received moderate (between 35 and 50%) and lower scores in the fringes of the study area with the contribution of settlements and main transportation routes. Particularly remote parts, where is relatively free from human exploitation, took higher scores (between 50 and 65%). In addition, the highest scores generally appeared in the central and remote parts of the study area, where canyon valleys with cover of undisturbed natural vegetation and temporary streams were common (between 65 and 75%)

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How to cite this article
Serif Hepcan and Cigdem Coskun, 2004. A Naturalness Quality Assesment; In the Case of Spil Mountain, Turkey. Journal of Applied Sciences, 4: 164-170.

Keywords: Naturalness indicators and assessment of naturalness quality

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