Within the boundaries of the Kırklareli Forest Management Directorate, water-related services come to the fore; Armağan and Kayalı Dams are critically important for drinking water supply and water protection functions. The fragmented structure of the forests and drought cause a decrease in water availability, while the amount of water used for agricultural irrigation is also gradually decreasing. In recreational services, Kavaklı Meşe Forest Park and the scout camp in Dereköy are important for ecotourism and nature education. While honey forests cannot provide sufficient efficiency for sustainable honey production, oak honeydew honey stands out with its geographical indication. The diversity of non-wood forest products (NWFP) is limited and only meets the needs of the local people; truffle mushroom production is considered a potential source of income.
Wildlife: Roe Deer, Wolf, Fox, Wild Boar, Rabbit, Hawk, Jackal
Provisioning Services: Drinking water supply, Honey forests, Non-Wood Forest Products
Regulating Services: Water protection function
Recreational Services: Ecotourism, Nature education
Vulnerable Forest Ecosystem Service Areas:
Kayalı and Kırklareli Forest Management Chiefdoms are located at the foothills of the Istranca Mountains and represent strategic ecosystem areas that host both forest cover and critical freshwater resources. Forests in these regions act as natural filters, playing a vital role in the collection, purification, and conservation of water, thereby supporting the continuity of both groundwater and surface water systems.
However, fertile agricultural lands intertwined with these forest areas lead to intensive farming activities in the region. Particularly during the summer months, the increased demand for irrigation water places significant pressure on available water resources. To meet this demand, deep wells and drainage channels are constructed in proximity to forested zones, disrupting natural hydrological cycles. This, in turn, weakens the ecological functions of the forests and reduces their water retention capacity.
The uncontrolled use of agricultural chemicals further exacerbates risks to both surface and groundwater quality. This pollution not only threatens ecosystem health but also undermines the safety of drinking and domestic water supplies for nearby settlements. Under the dual pressure of agricultural expansion and pollution, forest areas are gradually fragmented, leading to habitat loss, decreased biodiversity, and the deterioration of ecological balance.
Climate change further intensifies this vulnerability. According to climate projections, the region is expected to experience a temperature increase of 3.5 °C and a decline in precipitation of 50–60 mm between 2070 and 2100. These changes are likely to directly impact the hydrological regime while also threatening forest ecosystems, especially species such as black pine (Pinus nigra). The inability of ecosystem components to adapt swiftly to these new climate conditions will weaken the overall resilience of forest landscapes.
For this reason, the protection of vulnerable forest ecosystems within the Kayalı and Kırklareli Chiefdoms is of critical importance—not only for biodiversity but also for the security of water resources and the resilience of rural communities to climate change. Adopting integrated watershed management approaches and implementing nature-based solutions to balance the agriculture-forest-water nexus are essential for ensuring long-term sustainability in the region.
