Evaluation of Diyarbakır Urban Parks within the Framework of Biodiversity- Friendly Criteria in the Context of Resilient and Sustainable Cities

Objective: This study evaluates six urban parks in the city center of Diyarbakır within the framework of resilient and sustainable urban development using Biodiversity-Friendly criteria. Species richness, distribution evenness, proportions of native and fruit-bearing species, and ecosystem components were analyzed to determine biodiversity levels and Biodiversity-Friendly performance. Materials and Methods: The study covered 15 Temmuz Şehitler Parkı (July 15 Martyrs Park, KP1), Park 75 (Park 75, KP2), Kardeşlik Parkı (Brotherhood Park, KP3), Kent Meydanı (City Square, KP4), Sümer Parkı (Sumer Park, KP5), and Tema Parkı (Tema Park, KP6). Plant species were identified through field surveys, individual counts were conducted, and naturalness status was determined. Species diversity was calculated using the Shannon–Wiener (H′) and Simpson (1–λ) indices via BİÇEB software. Parks were also evaluated using the Biodiversity-Friendly Index, consisting of 10 main and 65 sub-criteria, and comparatively assessed. Results: A total of 173,343 plant individuals were recorded. The highest diversity values were found in KP6 (H′ = 2.93; 1–λ = 0.939) and the lowest in KP3 (H′ = 1.87; 1–λ = 0.796), while evenness was highest in KP5. Biodiversity-Friendly Index scores classified KP6 (85) and KP4 (83) as high-level, KP1 (77) as good, and KP2 (72), KP3 (69), and KP5 (71) as insufficient in mandatory criteria. Native species exceeded 10% in all parks. Conclusion: Biodiversity-friendly suitability depends not only on species richness but also on species evenness, the proportion of native and fruit- bearing species, permeable surfaces, ecological connectivity, and sustainable management approaches. Considering Diyarbakır’s semi-arid climatic conditions, high summer temperatures, and rapid urbanization pressure, the use of native and drought-tolerant species together with the development of permeable and ecologically connected green infrastructure systems is of critical importance. The findings provide a scientific basis for ecosystem-based and climate-sensitive urban park planning in Diyarbakır.