Fieldwork was completed to map and characterize the forest ecosystems within the boundaries of the Istanbul Regional Directorate of Forestry (İOBM) using an ecosystem-based approach. Although forest management maps provide valuable information such as dominant species, age classes, and canopy closure degree, they predominantly focus on closed-canopy forests (closure >40%). However, sparse forests (closure <40%) and shrub formations like maquis, oak scrublands, and grasslands are often overlooked due to their limited economic value. Yet, these formations are rich in biological diversity and play important roles in ecosystem services such as soil stabilization, carbon sequestration, and water retention.
This research, covering the European and Anatolian sides, aimed to analyze the different forest types, vegetation cover, and the services provided by the ecosystems in the region. During the research period, field observations and existing forest management maps were combined to conduct a comprehensive analysis to better understand Istanbul's forest ecosystems. Within the scope of the research, a total of 85 sampling sites and 286 observation points were determined. 228 of these points are located on the European side, and 58 on the Asian side. During the observations, tree and shrub layers were examined, and structural features such as canopy closure rates and understory cover percentages were recorded.
