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This study was based on the hypothesis that “Ecotourism is an important instrument in sustainable rural development and ecologically-based landscape planning approaches which take the objectives of socio-economic development and nature conservation have an effective role in this issue”. For this purpose, the necessity of ecologically-based landscape planning approaches in the planning and implementation of ecotourism activities and the importance of the views of related stakeholders in decision-making process have been established in this study. The field of study was grounded on subbasin and micro basin boundaries which take natural thresholds into consideration instead of administrative boundaries which contrast with natural thresholds. A total of 31 micro basins, consisting of 20 basins in the Kazandere basin of a total of 293 km² in the northwest of Turkey and 11 basin in the Pabuçdere basin, have been assessed. A 3-phased method was followed in the study. Firstly, the inventory and data base of the field were created on Geographic Information Systems medium and micro basins were determined. In the second phase, suitability analyses were carried out on the basis of the Ecotourism Opportunity Spectrum (ECOS) according to 6 basic components, 15 assessment factors, and 24 sub-criteria. In the third phase, the micro basins suitable for ecotourism potential were determined by creating a synthesis sheet on the field of study as a result of related analyses and assessments, and ecotourism oriented development strategies were developed by utilizing the rapid rural appraisal conducted in the area and visitor questionnaires as well.

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The aim of this study was to determine the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity as well as fatty acids and tocopherol compositions of organic and conventionally grown hazelnut (Corylus avellana). Organic hazelnuts were found to be richer in terms of palmitoleic acid (P˂ 0.05). The production method did not influence other parameters, but the variety factor affected many parameters. In all varieties, oleic acid was the predominant fatty acid followed by linoleic, palmitic, and stearic acids. The lowest atherogenic index was determined at Sivri and no difference was detected in terms of thrombogenic index (P˂ 0.05). In all varietiesα, β, γ, δ-tocopherol were detected and α-tocopherol was dominant. The highest amount of tocopherol was detected in Mincane (549.73 mg kg^-1 fat). The highest amount of phenolic substance (546.53 mg 100 g^-1 GAE) and antioxidant activity (48.84%) were detected in Çakıldak, probably due to the plant exposure to stress in high and cold regions. Results of the extensive analyses showed that organic hazelnuts had no significant differences with the conventional ones in terms of the parameters examined.