Conflicts in benefits from sustainable natural resource management: Two diverse examples from Turkey.

Participatory approaches to natural resource management and development are widely accepted as effective instruments for achieving sustainable forest management (SFM) particularly in the developing countries. However, local people live within and adjacent to the forest resources and are dependent on the forest in terms of their livelihoods may prevent turning some decisions, intended as a component of sustainable forest management, into action. This situation arises from the lack of involvement by local stakeholders, a condition that is generally accepted as one of the most important instruments of sustainable forest management. Consequently, forest and other natural resources have not been effectively protected from negative behaviours of local populations. In this study, difficulties that have been faced in acquiring local participation and the importance of local participation for sustainable forest management are discussed using two case studies from Turkey. At acquiring of local participation is considered to important of local perceptions. If perceptions are negative, participation will not obtain. Thus, the study has focused on local perceptions. Field survey was carried out to collect necessary information for each case study. We conclude that decisions that will restrict the natural resource benefits for the local public, will lead to negative local perceptions of the project and lead to adverse behavior and negatively affect sustainable forest management efforts.

Negative impact of rural settlements on natural resources in the protected areas: Kovada lake national park, Turkey.

In this study, negative human impacts on natural resource values of Kovada lake National park (KLNP) have been discussed in accordance with actual data and evaluations obtained from field surveys. The method used in this study is based on questionnaire, interviews and direct observations conducted in rural settlements within the boundary of the national park. According to the results of this study; Kovada Lake and its environs have not been protected from negative human impacts until now. Therefore, within this study, the proposals for the solutions of problems due to protection and utilization in the national park have been developed.