Land Degradation and Natural Environment in the Western Anatolia

The study area is located in the lower part of the Aegean region which is part of the Western Anatolia. The area has appropriate natural environmental conditions (such as climate, topography, soil, water, natural harbor, transportation facilities, etc.). Due to the suitable conditions, there are intensive population and variety economic activities. The settlement started in 2,000 BC with Lydian, Ionians (Ephesus, Miletus, Pergamum, etc.) and continued with Roman, Seljuk and Ottomans. These can be seen in the several places in the research area. Due to the suitable land for agriculture, water sources and forest land, transportation facilities (land and sea transport availability), western Anatolia has been seen continuously under the human pressure.Depending on the increased requirements, settlement areas in the agricultural lands and agricultural activities in the forest land have developed.