When the ecosystem services of the forests within the boundaries of the Edirne Forest Management Directorate are evaluated in order of priority; regulating services rank first. These services are critically important, especially in border regions where fire risks are increasing and air pollution is intense. Water resource management is another important regulating service, particularly due to water scarcity and irrigation problems. In provisioning services, ecosystem services provided through commercial activities such as non-forest products, tree roots, and walnut cultivation draw attention.
Wildlife: Jackal, Wolf
Regulating Services: Fire risk management; Air pollution management, Water resource management
Provisioning Services: Non-forest products
Vulnerable Forest Ecosystem Service Areas:
Located within the agriculture-dominated landscapes of Thrace, Uzunköprü and Malkara Forest Management Chiefdoms are situated in transitional zones where forest and farmland are closely interwoven. These areas are among the most vulnerable regions exposed to intense pressure from agricultural activities. Monoculture cultivation, the heavy use of agricultural chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers, and the expansion of farmland up to forest boundaries pose significant threats to the quality and sustainability of both soil and water resources.
The pressures to convert forested lands into agricultural use, along with the uncontrolled transformation of pastures and fallow lands, lead to habitat fragmentation and the disruption of wildlife corridors. This growing vulnerability results in a loss of forest biodiversity and jeopardizes the continuity of critical ecosystem services.
Climate change further compounds these pressures. According to current projections, average temperatures in the region are expected to rise by 3.5 °C and annual precipitation to decline by 60–70 mm between 2070 and 2100. These shifts are anticipated to have a direct impact on local hydrological regimes, threatening forest moisture balance and species composition. Species such as hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) are particularly expected to be adversely affected by these changing conditions.
