GIS BASED SECTORAL CONFLICT ANALYSIS IN A COASTAL DISTRICT OF TURKEY Aysegul Tanik*, Dursun Zafer Seker**, Izzet Ozturk* & Cigdem Tavsan* ITU, Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Civil Engineering, 34469, Maslak- Istanbul /Turkey * Department of Environmental Engineering ** Department of Geodesy and Photogrammetry Engineering E-mail: tanika@itu.edu.tr; dzseker@ins.itu.edu.tr; iozturk@ins.itu.edu.tr; cigdemtavsan@yahoo.com KEY WORDS: Geographical Information Ssytems (GIS), Sectoral conflict, Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), Akcakoca ABSTRACT: Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) has recently become an important topic in Turkey as the country is surrounded by seas from the three sides. An application of ICZM is done in this study for the selected district of Akcakoca along the Black Sea Coast of Turkey. A methodology developed within Tacis/EuropeAid projects (1998-2003) with the aim of supporting management decisions is tested in the overall project that is engaged to Istanbul Technical University (ITU) by the United Nations. Specifically in this paper emphasis is given to displaying the sectoral conflicts in the form of digital maps to the decision makers with the aim of presenting the actual land use activities. It is the duty of regional authorities to further develop spatial plans by utilizing the sectoral conflict maps. For this purpose, a baseline survey on the geological, climatic, hydrological conditions together with other environmental characteristics of the district are reviewed and further determined by the group of experts. At this stage, Remote Sensing (RS) and GIS technologies are used to produce necessary thematic maps. Besides, field trips are realized to the area to better evaluate the maps produced. Stakeholders meetings at each of the site visits are also organized by the Akcakoca Municipality to share the findings of the study. 1. INTRODUCTION The findings that will be mentioned and discussed within the scope of this paper will be part of the outcomes of the Pilot Project on ‘Testing of Methodology on Spatial Planning for Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)’ engaged to Istanbul Technical University (ITU) as Consultants to perform the services required by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The project lasted 9 months in year 2007. One of the specific objectives of the project was to identify the sectoral conflicts between the competing types of nature management, the needs of inhabitants, and the demands of the contemporary and future generations in a selected coastal district along the Black Sea Coast of Turkey (Ozturk et al., 2007a). The main objectives of the ICZM pilot project were (Ozturk et al., 2007b); • To improve the protection of the marine environment and vulnerable coastal zone, • To help in creating the common regional understanding of ICZM approach and its benefit to the area, • To enhance and strengthen the capabilities of the regional authorities for the coastal planning and management, • To contribute to the effective implementation of the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan in the pilot area The specific objective of the ICZM pilot project is to develop a spatial plan for the identified territory of the Black Sea coastal zone using the “Methodology of Spatial Planning for Coastal Zones” developed within Tacis/EuropeAid projects (1998- 2003) with the aim of supporting management decisions at a district unit related to land-use and natural resources by means of; • Evaluation of resources availability adjusted for the present and future needs, • Identification and resolution of conflicts between competing types of nature management, -between the needs of individuals and societies, and between the demands of the contemporary and future generations, • Identification of the optimum development alternatives and selection of the most acceptable/suitable, • Planning orientation for the realization of the desired and coordinated changes, and • Continuous experience analysis and its adjustment to the prevailing situation (Ozturk et al., 2007b). The general principles of coastal zone management are sustainable development, prevention, precaution, forecast, rehabilitation, polluter pays and user pays, use of the best available technology and the best environmental practices, information for the public and public participation, international cooperation. Besides, the principles specific to coastal zones are equitable distribution and sustainable management of common resources, hinterland development, protection of sensitive areas and threatened ecosystems and of habitats and species, priority for coastal-zone-dependent activities, unrestricted access to the shore, where appropriate. Within the framework of the Project, sectoral conflict analysis is followed by testing the methodology on spatial planning by means of generating importance and vulnerability maps various GIS layers. In this paper, only the sectoral conflicts determined via GIS will be introduced and discussed. The identification and analyses of the conflicts will form the basis of the paper where GIS based information system is utilized as the main tool to illustrate the findings. 665