Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
EĞİTİM YAYINEVİ, Ankara, 2024
The increasing demand for recreational activities has increased the pressure on resources used for recreational purposes. This situation has made it necessary for environmental or ecological issues to be on the agenda and to remain on the agenda constantly. The intensive use of recreational resources places great responsibility primarily on those who prepare these programs, recreation leaders or experts, and the participants of the activities. This study is a product of that responsibility that we also feel. Ecorecreation gives the message of adopting a protective and sustainable understanding without harming the ecological system and its functioning, especially during the use of natural resources, with the planning and policies of the materials, facilities, and areas, and applications of all kinds of sportive, artistic, voluntary and recreational tourism activities carried out in leisure time. It aims to minimize the environmental impact of recreational activities carried out in a sustainable and nature-friendly manner in harmony with the natural environment and to protect natural resources. Ecorecreation refers to planning recreational activities on an “ecological” basis. It focuses on protecting ecological balance and biodiversity. Ecorecreation is also the name of a group of recreational activities. Ecorecreation also meets the concept of “outdoor recreation”. What kind of vitality, movement, relationships, and diversity does life exhibit as it continues in a layer we call the “biosphere,” where the air around the earth meets water and soil? What is going on around us, visible or invisible, when we are hiking, hiking, mountaineering, orienteering, or doing any other leisure activity in nature? 2 PROF. DR. BEYZA MERVE AKGÜL, PROF. DR. SUAT KARAKÜÇÜK For example, the countless species that exchange nutrients, recycle wastes, live in microscopic or invisible microscopic sizes, underground or above ground in the forest ecosystem; birds, insects, animals, fish, and other creatures that live in any biological region in nature, adapted to the climate and soil of that region. As in all areas of life, it is imperative to consider this large network of relationships in the biosphere in the planning of recreational activities, most of which are formed by nature. Recreation leaders and other practitioners who use nature for recreational activities may see the relationships, beings, and their behaviors in nature as good, bad, beautiful, ugly, innocent or wild, and some plants as poisonous or non-poisonous, bitter or sweet. This does not require them to be evaluated as good or bad. They show what is natural, that is, the behaviors in their nature. The consciousness of “accepting things as they are” and “believing in the necessity of preserving their natural state” should be shown. Nature is hardly aware of what people think of it. Indeed, while humans can only survive in and with nature, nature can survive - perhaps even better - without humans. Nature can survive without human beings. However, without nature, there is no way for humans to survive. Recreation leaders and practitioners should be aware of the laws of nature, learn about them, make an effort to apply them correctly, and benefit from them without conflicting with nature. An approach that neglects and ignores the laws of nature cannot be sustained healthily. Negativities that may arise as natural reactions of nature during recreational activities should be foreseen. For example, knowing gravity will require you to take precautions when entering the water. Because gravity will pull someone who does not know how to swim under the water and cause them to drown. However, knowing how to swim means staying above the water and moving forward despite gravity. A basic knowledge of ecology is needed for the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. This knowledge is most necessary for “recreation leaders”. Good knowledge of ecological realities and ecosystems by reaching information beyond hearsay or newspaper reports requires, on the one hand, the necessity of protecting nature only because it is “nature” (ecocentric). On ECORECREATION 3 the other hand, it should be known that the excitement, vitality, and diversity of recreational activities, as well as most of the natural resources, can continue to be enriched and enriched. At the same time, the vitality of “commercial recreation” can be realized with a “nature-centered” environmental protection approach. Therefore, recreation leaders or experts and ecorecreation practitioners must be informed about basic issues such as terminology related to “ecology,” ecosystems, national and universal dimensions of environmental problems, causes of human-environment relationship, natural life, right to life, environmental law, environmental education, and biodiversity. Of course, even more importantly, recreation specialists who will plan leisure activities using nature, develop policies, or lead people in many activities that can be done in nature should have developed “social sensitivity” and then “environmental sensitivity” or “awareness.” Considering the features of leisure time activities such as volunteering, health, pleasure, joy, socialization, curiosity, and self-development, and the fact that the relations of recreationists with nature are carried out consciously will add more meaning to the subject. Ecorecreational activities enable people to connect with nature and, at the same time, contribute to protecting the natural environment. In addition, people’s instinct to “protect what they love” will result in more conscious and comprehensive protection of nature through well-planned and implemented ecorecreation, and activities can be carried out without harming nature. The monotony and exhaustion of working life have led people to care more about their free time and to turn to relaxing and entertaining recreational activities. Among the recreational activity preferences, urban open spaces and activities in natural areas outside the city have come to the fore. People’s interest in natural areas is also increasing. On the one hand, this situation highlights the type of ecorecreationist who has internalized the consciousness of nature conservation along with the love of nature. On the other hand, ecorecreationist leaders are trained in the awareness of ecorecreation, as well as knowing ecosystems and their functioning and recognizing the natural characteristics of the regions where they are located. This raises the expectation and necessity of people who are aware of biodiversity, know its functions, recognize the delicate balances in nature and the elements that make up these balances, environmental problems and their causes, environmental protection, and law, and the units responsible for putting these into practice. The book aims to contribute to realizing recreational activities with ecological sensitivity, conservation, development, and sustainability awareness, which are gradually increasing ecological pressure on nature. For this purpose, it is desired to contribute to the promotion and widespread use of the concept of “ecorecreation”, which is hidden in the message of nature conservation and awareness, to be more visible and spoken in scientific and popular life. In 2016, after our Turkish book “Ekorekreasyon: Rekreasyon ve Çevre” was published by Gazi Publishing, this time, we are publishing the book “Ecorecreation” in English with its improved and renewed edition to reach more readers. We hope that this book will be useful primarily for undergraduate and graduate students, graduates, and those who are interested in the subject.