09.05.2026 21:58
Authorities have been alerted for "Eber yellow," one of Turkey's endemic plant species that grows only around Lakes Eber and Akşehir in Afyonkarahisar. It has been announced that those who harm this special plant, known locally as "piyan" and under threat of extinction, will face administrative fines of hundreds of thousands of lira, while those who destroy its habitat will be fined nearly 3.5 million lira.
An alarm has been raised for "Eber yellow," one of the endangered endemic plant species in Afyonkarahisar. It has been announced that those who damage this special plant, which blooms every May and is locally known as "piyan," will face fines in the millions. Authorities stated that those who destroy the plant's habitat in particular could face administrative fines of up to 3,496,767 lira.
GROWS AROUND LAKE EBER
Eber yellow, which grows around Lakes Eber and Akşehir within the borders of Bolvadin, Çay, and Sultandağı districts, is among Turkey's endemic species. To protect this endangered plant, teams from the Provincial Gendarmerie Command and the 5th Regional Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks continue inspection and awareness activities in the area.
"HABITAT DESTRUCTION FINE EXCEEDS 3 MILLION"
Uğur Cengiz Erişmiş, Director of the Nature Conservation Biomonitoring Application and Research Center at Afyon Kocatepe University, stated that the fines applied for protecting endemic species are deterrent. Erişmiş said that a fine of 699,245 lira is imposed for picking the endangered plant, and 3,496,767 lira for destroying its habitat.
"SETTING UP TENTS AND MAKING ROADS ARE ALSO OFFENSES"
Emphasizing that habitat destruction does not only mean directly damaging the plant, Erişmiş stated, "Setting up tents, digging, or making roads in the area where the endemic species is found also constitutes habitat destruction and can result in millions of lira in fines."
"LOCAL PEOPLE SHOULD BE SENSITIVE"
Noting that even scientific research requires official permission, Erişmiş drew attention to the importance of social sensitivity against biopiracy. Stating that endemic species can only be protected not just by institutions but also with community support, Erişmiş expressed that these values should be passed on to future generations.