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 557,212 TL.

Antalya is one of the provinces where the peony flower, known as 'bear rose' in Anatolia and having many types, is most common in Turkey. Peony was also determined as the symbolic flower of Expo Antalya, which was held in Antalya in 2016. Every year in Antalya, nature walking groups and excursion 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.

THE WORD TURK IN ITS LATIN NAME

Paeonia Turcica, which has 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 altitude. Peonies, also known as 'Yörük rose', bud in March and start 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 was one of the first groups to organize a nature walk to the area 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 that although the family is the same, the species are different.

'NO QUARRIES SHOULD BE OPENED IN THESE AREAS'

Pointing out that there are problems in the cedar forests where peonies are located due to quarries, Nusret Yakışıklı said, "Opening a quarry here is like damaging the cedar forests, which are one of the most important values of Antalya, and cutting the branch we are sitting on. These places, which have very important ecological and tourism potential, are also a first-degree landslide zone and the center of water resources. Therefore, the opening of 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 risks. We are hearing that permission has been given again to a quarry in the region that was previously canceled by the court. If it's true, it's really sad for Antalya," he said.

THE 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 has been 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 applied as a penalty.