Anatolian sweetgum forests in terms of environmental sociology

• Published in: Sosyoloji Arastirmalari Dergisi Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 152 - 187
• Main Authors: Ürker, Okan, Yilmaz, Tolga, Öztürk, Sinasi, Çobanoglu, Nesrin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Turkish
• Published: 01.10.2014
• Subjects: Agricultural policy; Environmental degradation; Environmental effects; Environmental sociology; Forests; Nature conservation; Turkey; Urbanization
• ISSN: 1302-4426

Anatolian Sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis) is an endemic tree species and establishing densely natural and healthy forest nowhere else around the world except in Köycegiz-Dalyan SPA, Turkey. In the historical process, It has been playing important roles to form societial structure of the area. But especially, these forests, have been started to destructed by the government and local people as a result of urbanization and local agricultural policies which were developed during last seventy years, Today, they are now on the brink of extinction. This research aimed to determine destruction reasons of last Anatolian Sweetgum Forest of the world, underlying motivations of this destruction, transition of societial conscience and establishment of societial agreement in the frame of environmental sociology. This study consists of 531 surveys, 3 focus group meetings and 16 in-depth interviews. It has been pointed out that, despite the dense destruction which have been caused by local people, they are still taking up sweetgum forests, accepting it as one of the most important factors of their region and carrying on consciential responsibility by recognizing their destruction of these forests. By using findigs, it can be indicated that there is a possibility to redirect societial dynamics, which were motivated to wipe out at the beginning, to protect these forests again. //ABSTRACT IN FRENCH: Anadolu Sigla Agaci dünya üzerinde yalnizca Köycegiz-Dalyan Özel Çevre Koruma Bölgesi'nde dogal ve saglikli orman olusturan yogunlukta endemik bir agaç türüdür. Tarihsel süreçte yöredeki toplumsal yapinin sekillenmesinde önemli roller oynamistir. Ancak özellikle son yetmis yil içerisinde gelisen kentlesme ve yerel tarim politikalari sonucu bu ormanlar devlet ve yöre halki tarafindan tahrip edilmeye baslanmis olup günümüzde neredeyse yok olmak üzeredir. Çalismada çevre sosyolojisi kapsaminda dünyadaki son Anadolu Sigla Ormanlari'nin neden tahrip edildigi, bu tahribatin altinda yatan motivasyonun, toplumsal vicdandaki dönüsümün ve toplumsal mutabakatin olusumunun incelenmesi amaçlanmistir. Çalisma kapsaminda 531 kisi ile anket, 3 odak grup toplantisi ve 16 kisi ile derinlemesine mülakatlar gerçeklestirilmistir. Yöre halkinin yarattiklari yogun tahribatlara ragmen, sigla ormanlarini halen benimsemeleri, yörelerinin en önemli unsurlarindan biri olarak görmeleri ve bu ormanlara yönelik gerçeklestirdikleri tahribatlarin farkinda olarak vicdani sorumluluk tasidiklari tespit edilmistir. Çalismanin sonuçlarindan yararlanilarak, baslangiçta sigla ormanlarini yok etmek üzere motive edilen toplumsal dinamiklerin, yeniden bu ormanlari korumak üzere yönlendirilebilme olanaklari mevcuttur. Reprinted by permission of the Association of Sociology