THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROTECTED AREAS IN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION: THE CASE OF TURKEY

ABSTRACT The biodiversity on Earth, with the many species, ecosystems, and ecological processes that constitute the natural environment, is of incalculable value to humanity. Conservationists efforts are often inspired by Turkey’s unique biological system, which is highlighted by a broad biodiversity and a 34% rate of endemism. This fragile biotic wealth is sometimes threatened by pressures for economic development. Biodiversity-rich regions tend to have more urgent needs for conservation but frequently lack the financia resources and human capacity to achieve effective protections. Even so, there are many legislative leaders, institutional administrators, and other persons who are willing to work to save protected areas, or conservation areas (although this does not mean that their resource value would be properly protected); in fact, Turkey is one of the most enlightened nations in this regard. An institutional approach has been followed to bring new perspectives to the debate about the effectiveness of protected areas in Turkey. Protected areas have decreased steadily, from 5.647.568 ha in 2012 to 3.451.947 ha in 2018. This analysis confirms that protected areas face institutional restrictions, lapses in management, and capacity limitations. There is a need for a more adaptive approach to policy-making processes related to biodiversity conservation in Turkey.

摘要 构成地球自然环境的众多物种、生态系统与生态过程所承载的生物多样性，对人类而言具有不可估量的价值。自然保护工作者的行动常受土耳其独特生物系统的启发，该系统以丰富的生物多样性和34%的特有率为显著特征。这片脆弱的生物资源宝库有时会受到经济发展压力的威胁。生物多样性富集地区往往有着更为迫切的保护需求，却常常缺乏实现有效保护所需的财政资源与人力能力。即便如此，仍有众多立法工作者、机构管理者及其他相关人士致力于保护保护区（或称保护地）——尽管这并不意味着其资源价值能得到妥善保护；事实上，土耳其在该领域是最为开明的国家之一。本研究采用制度分析路径，为土耳其保护区有效性的相关学术讨论带来了全新视角。土耳其保护区面积已从2012年的5647568公顷稳步缩减至2018年的3451947公顷。本次分析证实，土耳其保护区面临制度约束、管理疏漏与能力短板等问题。土耳其亟需在生物多样性保护相关的政策制定流程中采用更具适应性的治理路径。