30.03.2025 12:00
In addition to the cosmetics industry, the species of snowdrops used in the production of flower and polio vaccines is under threat. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has banned the harvesting of snowdrop bulbs for a period of 5 years starting from this year.
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Known as the harbinger of spring and among endemic species, snowdrops have brightened the plateaus of Akseki district in Antalya. Used both as an ornamental plant and in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, snowdrops have faced the threat of extinction due to years of unconscious illegal harvesting, leading to a ban on their bulbs' harvesting for five years starting this year. With their pure white color, they offer a visual feast.
Mevlüt Arıcı, who practices beekeeping in Çimi Plateau during the summer months, stated that snowdrops have decreased in nature due to years of unconscious harvesting. He said, "In the past, we used to see snowdrop flowers everywhere, like a field of pure white crops. It brought peace to the viewer. Now, we are officially searching for snowdrops in Çimi Plateau, which is at an altitude of 1,900 meters in Akseki. We see them among the stones and in the bushes. The snowdrop bulbs that have been illegally and unconsciously harvested for years are seriously facing the threat of extinction," he said.
"THE BEST SNOWDROP BULBS GROW IN ÇİMİ PLATEAU"
Ramazan Ünal, one of the former muhtars of Çimi Mahallesi, stated that scientists recognize snowdrops as the most important among bulbous plants and that snowdrops have become a symbol among all bulbous plants. He noted that snowdrops, which have been illegally and unconsciously harvested from the Akseki plateaus for years, are facing the threat of extinction, and the best snowdrop bulbs grow in Çimi Plateau, Akseki, at an altitude of 1,900 meters in Turkey. In the past, this plateau was adorned with white wedding dresses. Now, we see them at the foot of the rocks, among the bushes. Because illegal harvesting has been done for years. Proper protection has not been implemented. Now, snowdrops have started to show themselves by peeking out from the shelters," he said.
"USED IN VACCINE PRODUCTION FOR FLOWERS AND CHILDHOOD PARALYSIS"
Önal pointed out that when snowdrops emerge from under the snow and bloom, it signifies the arrival of spring. "These rare flowers are an important bulbous plant that is exported. These bulbs have been harvested unconsciously, incorrectly, and out of season, without distinguishing between small and large. Thus, they are facing the threat of extinction in nature," he said. He expressed that snowdrop bulbs, used as ornamental plants, are also utilized in the cosmetic industry as well as in the production of flower and childhood paralysis vaccines, stating:
"Despite being an endemic species, unfortunately, every year harvesting snowdrops from nature was allowed. This year, we received information that the harvesting of snowdrop bulbs has been banned for five years by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. This made us very happy. We do not want the snowdrop flowers, which have their homeland in Akseki, to become extinct. In the past, snowdrop bulbs were illegally harvested in amounts exceeding the permitted quantity. However, these flowers need to mature and seed. Harvesting should not be done until the seeds turn yellow and fall. Because one of the most important features of snowdrops is that their bulbs multiply from both their flowers and bulbs. Each of their flowers contains dozens of seeds. When these dry, they naturally spread in nature and germinate," he said.
HARVESTING OF SNOWDROP BULBS BANNED FOR 5 YEARS
The "Taurus Snowdrop," which grows spontaneously in nature, is facing the threat of extinction due to excessive collection beyond the designated quota. Therefore, the muhtars of Çimi, Çanakpınar, and Sadıklar neighborhoods of Akseki, along with the Akseki Municipality, applied to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The application stated, "Exporting companies have been collecting and harvesting more products from nature than the allocated quotas in illegal amounts, causing irreparable damage to many regions of the Galanthus Elwesii species, and the measures taken have been insufficient." The application was evaluated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and the harvesting of snowdrop bulbs was banned for five years in the Akseki region.
The communiqué prepared by the ministry regarding the Export List of Natural Flower Bulbs for 2025 was published in the Official Gazette dated 14.12.2024, numbered 32752. The communiqué stated: "Harvesting cannot be done in places and species determined according to the status of populations and rotation principles. In this context, Galanthus elwesii, Cyclamen hederifolium, Cyclamen cilicium, and Eranthis hyemalis species cannot be collected from nature. Individuals or organizations that collect from nature without permission and illegally will be subject to action under the Environmental Law numbered 2872 dated 9/8/1983. Those who make false declarations during the export phase will be subject to action under Article 12 of the Seed Law numbered 5553 dated 31/10/2006 and Article 3 of the Law on the Fight Against Smuggling numbered 5607 dated 21/3/2007," it stated.
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