Turkish Journal of Forestry (Dec 2020)
Mapping cultural ecosystem services using social media data: The case of Datça peninsula
Abstract
Various decision-making scales in landscape planning entails the measurement and visualization of the value of ecosystem services that do not have an economic contribution. In order to maintain and manage cultural landscapes successfully, it is significant to understand the spatial distribution of cultural ecosystem services. Modeling cultural ecosystem services (CES) using social media data creates an approach that can be integrated into existing planning and policy tools. This study was conducted in Datça Peninsula, Turkey and used geotagged photographs (GPs) downloaded from Flickr social photo network via application programming interface (API). The aim of this study is to map cultural ecosystem services based on Kernel density approach. GPs were examined within the scope of physical, experimental, intellectual, and inspirational values. 57% of them had aesthetic, 20.1% of them had inspirational, 15.4% of them had cultural heritage and identity, 6.9% of them had recreational, and 0.7% of them had spiritual and religious values. The geographical locations of the photographs were used to apply the Kernel density estimation model. As a result of the analysis, it was found that the photographs reflecting the cultural heritage and identity value were concentrated in the ancient city of Knidos and its environs. It was also found that the photographs illustrating the recreational value, aesthetic value and inspiring values were concentrated in the settlement of Datça Peninsula, where the old town of Datça is located. The density of points suggested that there was a spatial variation of CES throughout the peninsula. It is noteworthy that spiritual and religious values were concentrated only at one location in the center of the peninsula. This study aims to reach researchers focusing on the mapping of ecosystem services and presents a methodological approach that can be useful, within the scope of landscape management underpinning the sustainability of cultural values.
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