The effects of urban growth on natural areas: the three metropolitan areas in Türkiye

Today, more than half of the world’s population of 7.6 billion lives in cities, and by 2030, it is estimated that the population of urban residents will exceed 5 billion worldwide. Since growth in cities destroys agriculture, forests, and wetlands, an increasing carbon footprint brings many environmental problems, such as global climate change. Among the developing countries, Türkiye’s largest cities have been experiencing a rapid urbanization process. The study aims to analyze the adverse effects of urban growth in Türkiye’s largest metropolises on natural areas such as agriculture, forests, and wetlands. In this context, the Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir metropolitan areas have been determined as case areas. The correlation between the changes in the land cover and the urban expansion processes of the three big cities from 1990 to 2018 has been systematically analyzed in the GIS environment using Corine land cover program data. The study indicates the devastating effect of urban growth on agricultural areas in all three case areas. In addition, the urbanization pressure in Istanbul continues to destroy northern forests.