TIME FOR PEONIES IN THE TAURUS MOUNTAINS
In Turkey, peony flowers, which have different types in many regions and are mostly seen in the coastal Beydağları in Antalya and are under protection, create beautiful images. The penalty for picking the flower is 557 thousand 212 TL.
Antalya is one of the leading provinces in Turkey where the peony flower, known as the 'bear rose' in Anatolia and having many types, is most commonly seen. Peony was also determined as the symbol flower of Expo Antalya, which was held in Antalya in 2016. Every year in Antalya, nature walking groups and tour groups go to see and photograph the peonies in the coastal parts of the Beydağları, especially in the Sarıçınar region of Hisarçandır Ekizce Plateau in the Konyaaltı district.
TURKISH WORD IN ITS LATIN NAME
Paeonia Turcica, which contains the word 'Turk' in its name and is completely unique to Anatolian lands, grows in the forest areas of the Taurus Mountains between 1100 and 1800 altitudes. Peonies, also known as 'Yörük rose', bud in March and begin to bloom in the first week of April. With the blooming of peonies in April, many nature walking groups and photography enthusiasts from Antalya and surrounding provinces go to see the peonies.
Patika Hiking Group became one of the first groups to organize a nature walk to the region where peony flowers are located this year. Nusret Yakışıklı, the founder of Patika, explained that the flower, whose local name is bear rose, is also seen in regions such as Eastern Anatolia and Central Anatolia in Turkey, and although the family is the same, the species differ.
'NO QUARRIES SHOULD BE OPENED IN THESE AREAS'
Nusret Yakışıklı also drew attention to the problems experienced due to quarries in the cedar forests where peonies are located, and said, “Opening a quarry in these areas is like damaging the cedar forests, one of Antalya's most important assets, and cutting the branch we are sitting on. These places, which have very important ecological and tourism potential, are also first-degree landslide areas and the center of water resources. Therefore, opening quarries will cause irreparable damage. We are not against quarries, but they should not be opened in valuable forest areas, water resources, agricultural areas and areas with landslide risk. We are hearing that a quarry, which was previously canceled by the court in the region, has been re-approved. If it is true, it is really very sad for Antalya.”
PENALTY FOR PICKING IS 557 THOUSAND 212 TL
The General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks has a penalty for picking peony flowers from their natural habitat in order to protect many endemic species or similar natural values that it has taken under protection throughout Turkey. Within the scope of the Environmental Law, the penalty for picking peony flowers from their natural habitats due to damage to the ecosystem was announced as 557 thousand 212 TL. It was stated that if the picking process is carried out on behalf of a legal entity, that is, a company, three times this amount will be imposed as a penalty.
