Parametric approach to land evaluation for forest plantation: A methodological study using GIS model

In this study, the land suitability analysis has been carried out to identify suitable areas found in the Yesilirmak Delta and the Central Black Sea Region of Turkey for afforest plantation. Climate, slope, soil, topography and vegetation were considered as important factors in identifying suitability. Climate and topography were considered as homogenous throughout the study area. The required soil data were obtained from detailed soil map sheet of 1:25.000 scales. The spatial layers were analyzed and incorporated into the geographical information system (GIS) environment. Criteria for land suitability of each land use types; Pinus pinaster Ait., Pinus radiata D. Don, Pinus pinea L., Populus L. Salix alba L., Robinia pseudoacacia L., Fraxinus excelsior L., Juglans regia L. have been identified from many literatures and studies. Each soil characteristic with associated attribute data is digitally encoded in a GIS database to eventually generate eight thematic layers. The diagnostic factors of each thematic layer were assigned values of factor rating. Finally, suitability maps for each land unit type were prepared with three suitability categories namely, suitable, moderately suitable and not suitable. According to the final suitability maps of the species, highly suitable category of the study area for P. pinaster,. P. radiata, P. pinea, Populus, S. alba, R. pseudoacacia, F. excelsior, J. regia are 15.7, 15.2, 38.8, 65.9, 64.7, 50.1, 56.1 and 63.3%, respectively.