Türkiye places over 10,500 monumental trees, 319 caves under protection

ANKARA/ ISTANBUL

Türkiye has 10,503 registered monumental trees and 319 caves throughout the country, the Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change told Anadolu.

Registered monumental trees and caves are protected and their maintenance is ensured, according to the officials.

The ministry explained that according to the dimensional and cultural characteristics, monumental trees are divided into four groups: dimensional, historical, folkloric and mystical.

Cultural monumental trees must possess characteristics such as "witnessing a historical event or figure" from a historical perspective, "being revered by the local people through a religious belief" from a mystical perspective, and "having witnessed the customs and traditions of the people taking place in their vicinity, even if only periodically, or having witnessed a sad or joyful event in the region" from a folkloric perspective.

A tree is considered dimensionally monumental when factors such as age, crown spread, trunk diameter and height are assessed and found to place it well above the typical standards for its species.

- How are monumental trees restored?

The rehabilitation and health-boosting works starts after right after monumental trees are registered and protected. During rehabilitation, trunk and crown are being removed from mistletoe, harmful fungi, ivy, dry and diseased branches, and foreign objects such as ropes, wires, cables and signs that damage the tree.

Specialists disinfect trees showing signs of fungal and bacterial infections after pruning. To prevent bark peeling during cutting thick and dry branches, a staged cutting method is used. The cut surfaces are then coated with grafting paste to prevent decay.

As part of rehabilitation, concrete, asphalt, paving stones and other artificial hard surfaces surrounding the tree’s root collar are carefully removed without harming the roots or trunk. The area is then refilled with soil, and long-lasting nutrients and fertilizers are applied to promote healthy root growth.

- Number of registered caves reached 319

Projects are underway across various regions to identify and conserve caves as natural heritage sites, including those already under protection and lesser-known caves that have yet to receive official status.

As a result of the efforts, the number of caves registered as natural heritage sites in the country has reached 319.