A methodical approach to the mapping of biotope types by using GIS based remote sensing techniques (Köprülü Kanyon National Park Case / Turkey)

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The objectives of nature conservation focused on the protection of selected animal and plant species and individual ecosystems through conservation. The basic components of nature conservation are flora and fauna including their habitats, biodiversity, performance and functionality of the natural environment. These can be directly linked to the goals for ecosystem, species and biotope protection. The main objective of this study is the development of an efficient nation-wide procedure for biotope type mapping. This requires the methodical development of a systematic biotope type mapping. In preparation an exemplary region was chosen the Köprülü Canyon National Park, which covers an area of 35,672.72 ha, The biotope types in the area were recorded, classified and mapped using GIS-supported remote sensed technology. Methods of digital classification were utilized in determining forest types and maquis. The remotely acquired information and the classes had to be combined with other information in order to be processed via GIS. The analysis and evaluation using GIS was the basis for establishing the biotope types. The GIS analysis served to place the polygon and object classes which were classified by visual or digital image evaluation on the biotope type layer. Thus the biotope type layer is a final layer for all biotope-forming shape files that serves the transferring of adjoining polygon classes. The biotopes were classified by coding the homogenous biotope surfaces according to their characteristics. This made it possible to address the biotope types via their properties in various hierarchical levels. The typification and description of biotopes achieved through hierarchic classification. Thereafter, the biotope types were presented as a list together with their descriptions, which contained information used during classification. The characteristics for classification are distinguished by hierarchical level which entails a discreet description of the particularities and characteristics. The biotope types were mapped for each layer in a hierarchical level.