Technical Examination Of Pasture Areas In Land Consolidation Projects And Legal Framework: The Case Of Balıkesir Province, Türkiye

Abstract

Among the natural resources, pasture areas are of great importance for animal husbandry and animal production. In addition, they have many benefits, from preventing soil and water erosion to protecting genetic resources. Many studies are being carried out to protect, improve, and make these areas sustainable. In rural areas, land consolidation studies are carried out to obtain the highest yield from the unit area with the least cost. Inland consolidation studies, the geometric shapes of the parcels are corrected, their planning is done so that they will have direct access to roads, irrigation, and drainage networks, and land reclamation is carried out. Pasture lands within the regulation border are also evaluated within this scope. In Türkiye, until April 28, 2018, consolidation studies were carried out by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock and the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, while after this date, they were carried out by the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works. In addition to the changes in the implementing institution in the consolidation projects, changes were made to the legislation. The changes made within this scope also include the evaluation of pasture areas. In this study, the Manyas Left Bank Irrigation and Fertile Pumped Irrigation L.C. and F.D.S. Project, the works carried out in Bereketli and Simavlı villages will be evaluated. The General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works carries out the project. Different applications regarding pasture areas within the project's scope were made in two villages. The main difference in the application is the cutting from pasture areas. No cutting was done in Simavlı Village pastures, but Bereketli pastures were cut. Within the scope of our study, these differences were revealed, and their status before and after the project was evaluated. Of the two villages in the same project area, no deduction was made from pasture parcels in Simavlı Village, while deductions were made in Bereketli Village. In Simavlı Village, most of the pasture parcels were left out of the regulation in order to reduce the rate of participation in standard facilities and to avoid expropriation costs.