Development of sustainable wetland management strategies by using the analytical hierarchy process and web-based GIS: A case study from Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop sustainable management strategies for the Akgol Wetland in Turkey, which lacked a management plan, in an integrated manner via using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and web-based geographic information systems. As such, it aimed to present the utility of AHP in wetland management studies. Water quality and soil analysis, field studies and remote sensing analyses were simultaneously conducted to define the prevailing characteristics and dynamics of the wetland. The results of all the studies conducted were compiled and analysed by a multi-disciplinary team of experts, and eight outstanding criteria for wetland rehabilitation were determined. A convenient web-based GIS application, accessible online and capable of handling queries, was developed as part of dissemination activity. This study, by developing a management and a monitoring methodology, forms a model for other wetlands suffering from changes in both quality and quantity, which is still a common problem experienced in the world today.