Understanding human–aquifer interactions using fuzzy cognitive mapping approach at the Palas Basin

Abstract The complex relationships between social and environmental systems create challenges for environmental sustainability. In this study, we used the fuzzy cognitive mapping approach to investigate human–aquifer interactions at the Palas Basin (Kayseri, Türkiye). Cognitive maps are casual maps that reflect the perceptions and understandings of different people/groups. With this approach, we aimed to reveal how goals, perceptions, and understandings of water users/managers affect the groundwater system in the Palas Basin. The cognitive maps were drawn with farmers and state officials and transformed into adjacency matrices for further analyses. Graph theory indices (indegree, outdegree, centrality, density, complexity, hierarchy index) were calculated to characterize maps. The maps of farmers and state officials were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test. Social cognitive maps were prepared by combining individual cognitive maps. Neural network computational method was used to reveal the response of the system to different management scenarios. This study pointed to the importance of irrigation/irrigated agriculture is for the Palas Basin. Increasing agricultural yields and profits by expanding the cultivation of high water consuming crops and irrigation/fertilization was found to be the priority of people. Both farmers and state officials think that groundwater levels go down due to extensive pumping in the basin. However, farmers are still more focused on short-term economic gains rather than the sustainability of the agricultural system. Fuzzy cognitive mapping approach provided an effective tool for revealing the understandings of water users/managers about the groundwater system. The information obtained in this study could be used in the future for groundwater management in the Palas Basin.