Abstract

This study proposed a sustainable community model for Sahmuratli Village in rural Turkey based on the available resources and demands of the local community in the area. This model was inspired by the eco-village Hagaby in Sweden. Kerkenes-Eco Center, located in Sahmuratli Village, began demonstrating sustainability projects to attract sustainable community development related to economic and social improvements in the village while preserving its distinctive community dynamics. Interview and survey methods were used to understand the opinions and attitudes of the local community toward implementing sustainability projects. In addition, the PEBOSCA framework was applied to analyze the village’s potential in terms of physical (P), economic (E), biological (B), organizational (O), social (S), cultural (C) and aesthetic (A) resources. Based on the methods used, this study proposed five different projects to improve the economic and social conditions of the local community through developing waste management, transportation, markets for local products, environmental education and eco-tourism. The major constraint of the study was the resistance of the local community to change their attitudes toward these practices. The reasons behind this resistance include political conflicts as well as limited economic resources. This case provokes the need to increase the investment in community capital such as physical, natural and social. Furthermore, it calls for attracting more attention to sustainable community development in Turkey based on a successful case in Sweden.