20.03.2025 12:01
In Beydağları Coastal National Park in Kemer, Antalya, the Kemer orchid, a plant species unique to this region, has started to bloom with the arrival of spring. Prof. Dr. İsmail Gökhan Deniz from Akdeniz University stated that there is a fine of 557,212 TL for uprooting this plant species.
In the Beydağları Coastal National Park within the borders of Kemer, with the warming of the weather, endemic plant species unique to the region have begun to show their faces. To see the Kemer orchid, which only grows in Kemer, the local people and both domestic and foreign tourists are organizing tours to the area.
Prof. Dr. İsmail Gökhan Deniz, a faculty member at AÜ Faculty of Education and President of the Antalya Orchid and Biological Diversity Conservation Association (ANTOK), stated that collecting orchids and endemic plants without permission is prohibited, saying, "Orchid species used in salep production are illegally uprooted from nature. However, this is not just an economic issue; it also signifies ecological destruction. In research conducted in the Beydağları Coastal National Park, we found that tubers of the Kemer orchid, which only grows in this region, are being offered for sale on some websites abroad. This highlights the significant threat of biopiracy," he said.
Pointing out that Turkey is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of plant diversity, Prof. Dr. Deniz stated, "There are approximately 10,000 plant species in our country. Of these, 3,500 are endemic. In Antalya alone, 700 endemic plant species grow. Of these, 250 exist only in Antalya and are not found even in the nearby surroundings. If we do not protect this genetic heritage, we cannot bring it back again," he said.
'THE FINE FOR UPROOTING PLANTS WITHOUT PERMISSION CAN EXCEED 1 MILLION TL'
Stating that biopiracy is not only done for commercial purposes, but that even some individuals uprooting plants from nature with good intentions poses a significant threat, İsmail Gökhan Deniz said, "Taking any part of threatened or endangered plant and animal species threatens the future of that species. Therefore, the fine for uprooting plants without permission can exceed 1 million TL. The fine for uprooting the Kemer orchid, which is unique to this region, is 557,212 TL. Our citizens should know this; they may want to uproot a plant from nature and grow it on their balconies or gardens. However, rest assured, those species cannot continue to live when they are removed from their natural habitats. They may bloom for a while with the energy they take from the soil, but they need their natural ecosystems to continue their generations. Therefore, no endemic or protected plant should be taken from its natural environment," he said.
'REPORT ILLEGAL PLANT COLLECTORS TO THE GENDARMERIE'
Emphasizing that biopiracy poses a significant threat not only in Turkey but also worldwide, Prof. Dr. Deniz said, "When citizens see anyone collecting plant or animal materials, they should inform the gendarmerie or law enforcement. Even scientific research requires certain permits. Any collection done without these permits is a crime. Even a leaf or a seed is a value stolen from our country's biological wealth," he said.
Deniz noted that the sale of endemic plant tubers over the internet reveals the dimensions of biopiracy, stating, "In recent operations at customs, thousands of seeds and plant samples were seized. The Anatolian geography attracts attention worldwide with its rich plant diversity. Unfortunately, this situation also becomes attractive for smugglers. If we cannot protect the plants in our own lands today, in the future we will have to buy medicines or agricultural products that use these plants from other countries at high costs. Instead, let’s protect our endemic plants and produce them ourselves," he expressed.