Spatial dominance of land use in Türkiye's NUTS-2 regions: an integrated quantitative approach

This study analyzes the spatial dominance and regional differentiation of forest, agricultural, and water surface areas across Türkiye's NUTS-2 regions for the period 2000-2024. Land use data were compiled from nationally authoritative sources and standardized in hectares to ensure interregional comparability. Spatial concentration patterns were evaluated using the location quotient (LQ) method, while principal component analysis (PCA), and cluster analysis were employed to identify structural dimensions and regional typologies. Results indicate a pronounced decline in agricultural dominance, contrasted with a relatively stable yet regionally differentiated structure of forest areas. Water surfaces exhibit localized but significant shifts, particularly in eastern and southeastern regions. PCA findings show that 84.6% of total variance is explained by two components representing the agriculture-forest balance and water surface distribution. Cluster analysis reveals two main regional groupings, with TRB2 displaying a distinct dominance pattern driven by water surfaces. The TR61 region emerges as a balanced land use structure where both agricultural and forest dominance remain comparatively strong. These findings demonstrate that land use dynamics in Türkiye are shaped by region-specific ecological and structural factors rather than uniform national trends. The study provides a quantitative, multidimensional framework for interpreting regional land use transformations and offers policy-relevant insights for sustainable resource management and regional planning.