URBAN PLANT DIVERSITY POTENTIAL OF THE CEMETERIES AND THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES OFFERED: THE SAMPLE OF KAYSERİ CITY (ASRİ) CEMETERY

Abstract

Cemeteries are one of the indispensable forms of land use in urban areas or in the city. Urban cemeteries are among the green infrastructure elements all over the world, and with the increasing urbanization, they play an important role for urban biodiversity conservation. Aim: In this study, the urban plant diversity potential of the cemeteries was investigated and the ecosystem services provided by the tree species used were discussed. In this context, Kayseri City Cemetery, which is the largest cemetery of the city, was chosen as the study area. Method: First of all, on-site observation and investigation were made and the current state of the cemetery area was revealed, and plants in the area were identified. Then, with the table created on the basis of the literature review the ecosystem services provided by the dominant tree species in the area have been determined. Findings: As a result of on-site observations and investigation carried out in the cemetery a total of 101 taxa, 53 of which were coniferous and broad-leaved trees / shrubs, were identified. The supplier, organizer, habitat and cultural ecosystem services provided by the 10 dominant tree species were examined under 5 main topic such as social, cultural, economic, aesthetic and ecological benefits. Results: The study area on the basis of tree species; it provides many important ecosystem services such as increasing cultural-historical and aesthetic value, biodiversity potential, regulating the urban climate, recreation, improving public health and psychology. As a result, it is necessary to make an inventory of the cemeteries, which are an important land use in urban areas both for the rotection of urban plant diversity and for the sustainability of biological diversity, on the basis of natural-cultural-endemic species and to demonstrate their ecological value.