ABSTRACT
Chapter 8 presents the case of Goksu, in Anatolia in Turkey, and shows how humans traditionally have managed natural resources and how land use was shaped over the centuries based on its potential and on human needs. The territory was never rich in fossil fuels. Settlers in the region therefore relied on wood to meet their fuel demand. This gradually led to severe erosion problems, particularly along the Mediterranean coast. Although limitations existed, locals developed traditional management practices to secure their food and fibre production by reshaping the environment, which is termed ‘anthroscape’. The anthroscape approach adopted in the chapter reviews the land use and the potential for bioeconomy development, when resources are sustainably used. The chapter also explores to what extent land resources in Anatolia can support the new renewable energy targets and other biomass needs in Turkey. It suggests measures to improve the availability of biofuel resources and develop the other sectors that depend on bio-resources in the region. The chapter analyses the net primary production, the total organic carbon and humic acid content of different land use types in Anatolia, which give an indication of the ecological sustainability of the anthroscape.
