Identifying Landscape Values and Stakeholder Conflicts for the Protection of Landscape Multifunctionality: the Case of Eksisu Wetlands (Turkey)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify and define the multiple benefits that Eksisu Wetlands (Upper-Euphrates Basin) provides to its local stakeholders, and the major problems and sectors/stakeholders in conflict that shape the area in order to inform the collaborative landscape planning process for the wetlands. Landscape value mapping and analysis of the stakeholders and conflicts between them were employed, as were statistical analysis of the linkages between the perceived benefits of the landscape and land use/land cover characteristics. Stakeholder analysis showed that the governmental institutions have more decision-making power than user group of the wetlands. Drainage control, over grazing, abstraction of sand-gravel from the river bed, environmental pollution and the lack of will to use the available legislative and administrative mechanisms are the primary factors that threaten the Eksisu Wetlands and its multifunctionality. Among the landscape values examined, future value was considered the most important by the stakeholders. Two sets of landscape service bundles were identified; use and non-use landscape values; option landscape values-that are linked to Eksisu Wetlands. Conflict between the nature conservation and agriculture sectors and, conflict between the stakeholders over provisioning, regulatory, and cultural services are two primary conflict issues that were identified in the drainage basin of the wetlands. Habitat protection and improvement, and protecting and improving the area's regulating and cultural functions were proposed as priorities for the collaborative management of the area.