Abstract:

Forest crimes are generally and naturally committed by forest villagers and agricultural workers living in rural areas in Turkey. Forest crimes are committed for various reasons and it is an important issue that should be emphasized in terms of sustainable forest management and natural resources. The aim of this study is to determine forest crimes according to crime types and spatial characteristics, to reveal the socioeconomic reasons for committing these crimes and to give suggestions for the prevention of forest crimes. The study area is the province of Düzce, Yığılca, located in the Western Black Sea Region of Turkey. The borders of Yığılca district are also the borders of Yığılca Forest Management Directorate (YOİM). For this reason, data on forest crimes for the years 2011-2020 within the boundaries of YOİM constitute the study material. The obtained data were digitized in ArcGIS 10.4 program. In addition, descriptive information on crime statistics, the relationships between crime types and the factors of age, education and occupation of the accused were analyzed together. Since the data obtained did not show normal distribution, non-parametric tests were applied and statistical analyzes were made in SPSS 22 program. According to the study findings; it has been determined that the main forest crimes committed in Yığılca district are illegal cutting, occupation-utilization and causing forest fires by negligence, respectively. According to the spatial analysis findings of forest crimes, it has been determined that forest crimes are concentrated in Melendere and Kızıltepe Forest Operation Chiefs. It is understood that the socio-economic reasons of forest crimes are ignorance (ignorance), denial and economic need. As a result of the study, suggestions were made to forestry managers and decision makers regarding the prevention of forest crimes committed in Yığılca region. 

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