Understanding the Impacts of Illegal Logging in Turkey: a Case Study on Junipers in Eskiehir

Abstract

Juniper forests in Turkey are one of the most valuable ecosystems for the country due to their ecological, socio-economic and cultural importance. Because of its wide usage for wood, non-wood products and feedstock, people have historically benefited from these forests. Juniper forest area has been eroded by anthropogenic as well as natural forces leading to critical environmental problems. Illegal logging is one of the most important anthropogenic threats. In this study, in order to assess the impacts of illegal logging on juniper forests, we determined cutting dates and seasons of foetid junipers and calculated financial losses using an interdisciplinary approach. The cutting dates of the trees in a small area were dispersed over a period of time between 1949 and 2001. That refers rather to illegal logging for livelihood of villagers than to commercial logging. Although we calculated monetary cost of the illegal logging, we conclude that losses were more appropriately considered using a total economic value approach.