In the Çatalca Forest Management Directorate, climate regulation, water resource protection, and carbon sequestration come to the forefront. Furthermore, the capacity of the forests in the region, especially for providing cultural services such as recreation and education, is also high. Forest product harvesting and the provision of non-wood products are also among the important provisioning services, contributing to the livelihood of the local population.
Wildlife: Wild Boar, Roe Deer, Rabbit, Tortoise, Snake, Balkan Green Lizard, Deer, Fox, Jackal
Regulating Services: Climate regulation, Water resource protection, Carbon sequestration
Cultural Services: Recreation, Educational services
Provisioning Services: Forest product harvesting, Non-wood forest products
Vulnerable Forest Ecosystem Service Areas
1. Terkos Lake Basin (Terkos, Durusu, Karacaköy Forest Management Chiefdoms)
Located within the Terkos Lake Basin, the Terkos, Durusu, and Karacaköy Forest Management Chiefdoms include key freshwater supply zones for the European side of Istanbul. The region’s high precipitation regime and low-permeability geological structure make it critically important for water storage. However, growing rural settlements around drinking water reservoirs, coupled with uncontrolled waste management, illegal construction, and pressures on forest lands, pose serious threats to ecosystem health.
In recent years, increasing drought trends have reinforced the close link between the conservation of forest cover and the sustainability of surface and groundwater resources. Unauthorized forest clearings and unregulated recreational use compromise the integrity of water catchment areas, thereby putting Istanbul’s water security at risk. The area’s vulnerability is exacerbated by both climate-induced water scarcity and human-driven land-use pressures.
Climate change further intensifies these risks. Between 2070 and 2100, average temperatures in the region are projected to increase by 3.2 °C, while annual precipitation may decline by 10–15 mm. These shifts are expected to directly affect water regimes and negatively impact forest ecosystems—particularly species such as Turkey oak (Quercus cerris) and hornbeam (Carpinus betulus).
2. Forests Under Recreational Pressure (İnceğiz, Çiftlikköy, Çatalca Forest Management Chiefdoms)
Located in the Thrace transition zone in western Istanbul, the İnceğiz, Çiftlikköy, and Çatalca Forest Management Chiefdoms feature expansive forest landscapes, caves, valleys, and rural vistas that have attracted increasing numbers of nature visitors in recent years. Due to easy road access, these areas have become hotspots for unregulated recreational activities such as free camping, off-road driving, barbecuing, and unsupervised nature tourism.
Such pressures have led to forest trail degradation, vegetation damage, waste accumulation, and heightened fire risk. Moreover, forest patches that border agricultural and rural settlements are subject to land-use conflicts, which weaken their legal and ecological protection status.
Climate change compounds these existing vulnerabilities. Projections indicate that average temperatures will rise by 3.2 °C and precipitation will decline by 10–15 mm by the end of the century. These changes threaten local hydrological balances and forest resilience, with species such as Turkey oak (Quercus cerris) and hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) expected to be particularly affected in the face of altered climate conditions.
