Settlement Expansion Versus Environmental Protection: Ecosystem Services for Environmental Regulation Planning in Izmir, Turkiye

Esra Kut Görgün and Stefano Salata ()
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Esra Kut Görgün: Independent Researcher, 35390 Izmir, Turkey
Stefano Salata: Department of Architecture and Urban Studies, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-20

Abstract: Land use and planning decisions, such as the designation of urban development areas, have a significant impact on ecosystem services (Ess). In urban planning, it is essential to consider the environmental values of ecosystem services when determining urban development zones. Spatial analyses play a crucial role in guiding decision-making processes by balancing environmental value and urban expansion. This study aims to identify areas of alignment or conflict between environmental values derived from ecosystem services and settlement expansion zones according to the Environmental Regulation Plan in the Izmir metropolitan area. The study employs the InVEST ® (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs) model and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map ecosystem services. Environmental values derived from ecosystem services, such as habitat quality, carbon storage and sequestration, and sediment delivery ratio, were analyzed. The results demonstrate a trade-off between high environmental values and settlement expansion zones. The five largest conflict areas with high environmental value are located near the coast and were converted from shrubland and forest areas. This study underscores the importance of identifying and prioritizing conservation sites with high composite environmental value.

Keywords: urban planning; ecosystem services; habitat quality; carbon storage and sequestration; sediment delivery ratio; InVEST model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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