Sustainable development is one of the issues that many developed and developing countries focus on in the world. The sustainability of human and natural resources is of great importance for securing the world and humanity's common future. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the socio-economic structure of Erzurum with analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and digitized strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis considering sustainable development goals (SDGs). The items included in the Agenda 21 report of the United Nations and 17 SDGs determined by the United Nations were taken into consideration in this endeavour. In line with expert opinions, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats created by the sustainable development goals for Erzurum province were analysed statistically with the AHP. Priority and weighted values of each sub-criterion were calculated. According to this analysis, “the richness of natural, cultural and historical resources for tourism potential” ranks first among the strengths of the province regarding sustainable development goals. Weaknesses include “insufficient investment and entrepreneurial culture”. However, “priority region status for development” criterion stands out as the most important opportunity. Threats include “loss of labour force due to migration from agricultural areas” criterion. After the statistical analysis, the quantitative results of made for the best realization of sustainable development for the area were assessed to specify new goals and strategies. Suggestions were offered to define opportunities and strengths, threats and weaknesses with new-build strategies and to make the plans accordingly.

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The integration of sustainability to the concept of development and the sustainable development goals set by the United Nations added another dimension to the relationship between human and environment. The Brundtland Report and Agenda 21 report published in 1987 and 1992, respectively, diversified the mountainous area approaches and they have become a research subject for sustainability research. Studying developmental aspects of sustainability approaches towards mountainous areas and determining their limits have posed challenges since the beginning. Recently, these impediments are overcome by various Geographic Information Systems and criteria for mountainous area relimitations based on environmental and topographic characteristics. However, socio-economic assessments for the mountainous area relimitations are yet to be performed. This article highlights the importance of international and national scale in, several relimitation projects and analysis of Giresun's mountainous areas focusing on topographical and the socioeconomic characteristics. A three-step approach has been adopted for socio-economic analysis of mountainous areas. The first step is the introduction of the physical integrity of the mountainous areas and the natural environmental conditions. The second is to determine the boundaries of mountainous areas and zones affected by mountainous areas in social and economic terms by adhering to natural conditions. Third, the socio-economic analysis of the mountainous areas in Giresun Province through 11 criteria. An assessment proposal based on socio-economic characteristics regarding human-nature interactions in mountainous areas has been presented, as well. The diversity of aspects that affect the sustainability of mountainous areas is explained with practical examples.

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Protected areas are the focal point of processes that come to the forefront and contribute to tourism with the concern of transferring national and international natural and cultural areas to future generations. This study includes the determination of the evaluation factors for tourism-based protected area approaches, and the analysis of the protected areas that developed in terms of tourism and infrastructure among the nature parks in Giresun province according to the AHP-TOPSIS method. The proposed model is designed according to 4 main groups resource values and 15 sub-criteria. In the research, the opinions of the experts on the protected areas were analyzed by making pairwise comparisons and alternative selection. The results of these analyzes contribute to the correct decision-making, planning, management, and precise determination of investment areas for the protected areas used for tourism purposes while providing convenience to eliminate the deficiencies in protection and infrastructure planning.