Evaluating Cultural Ecosystem Services Through Geospatial Social Media Data: A Study of Edirne City

Cultural ecosystem services (CES) play a crucial role in enhancing human well-being and shaping sustainable landscape management. Geotagged photos shared on social media have emerged as an innovative data source for CES research, offering temporal, spatial, and thematic information on human-nature interactions. This study focuses on assessing CES in Edirne, a significant border city in Turkey, by analyzing geotagged photos obtained from the Flickr social photo network. By analyzing geotagged photos from the Flickr social photo network, CES values were categorized and mapped within the city. The results highlight the significance of cultural heritage and identity values, relying on historical and cultural elements like architectural structures and historical sites. Visitors tend to prefer locations that encompass these elements, emphasizing the importance of preserving and managing the city’s cultural heritage in policy-making processes. The study provides valuable insights for landscape planners, cultural heritage organizations, and decision-makers, contributing to sustainable urban governance and informing physical-spatial planning. By considering CES and the contributions of cultural heritage to tourism and the local economy, conservation efforts can be harmonized with economic development. This research demonstrates the potential of social media data in evaluating CES, offering a framework for understanding human-environment interactions, and promoting sustainable practices in urban landscapes.