Thanks to the works carried out by the General Directorate of Forestry (OGM) since 2016 within the scope of the ‘Laurel Action Plan’, laurel, which has become more productive, has been brought to the country’s economy by carrying out rehabilitation activities on an area of 26 thousand decares as of today.
One of Turkey’s important essential oil plants and with a great potential in foreign trade, laurel contributed 175 million TL to forest villagers and 1 billion 850 million TL to the country’s economy in 2021.
Within the scope of the Laurel Action Plan carried out by OGM, it is aimed to contribute 190 million TL to forest villagers and 2 billion TL to the country’s economy from 52 thousand tons of laurel production in 2022.
“Exported to many countries”
Bekir Karacabey, General Manager of Forestry, stated that as of the end of 2021, approximately 45 million dollars of foreign currency input was provided in return for the export of 16 thousand 450 tons of bay leaves. “The laurel, which is distributed in our forested areas in the Aegean, Mediterranean and Black Sea Regions, was registered as ‘Turkish Laurel’ by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office last year. The laurel, whose leaves and oil are used especially by the cosmetics, medicine and food industry, is today in China, Vietnam, USA, Brazil. It is exported to many countries in the world, especially Germany, Poland and Japan. said.
“The number of laurel processing facilities has increased 3 times”
Karacabey added that 90 percent of the world’s laurel supply is met by Turkey. “According to the inventory planning studies carried out to date, there are 90 thousand tons of usable laurels per year on an area of 180 thousand hectares in our forest areas. Our studies on inventory and utilization plans continue. While our laurel production was 3,500 tons in 2003, this figure increased to 45,200 tons in 2021. The number and installed capacity of laurel processing facilities in our country has increased 3 times. The contribution of laurel to forest villagers is 175 million TL, and its contribution to the country’s economy is 1 billion 850 million TL in 2021. In 2022, laurel rehabilitation on an area of 2 thousand 250 hectares, 52 thousand tons Laurel production is planned, and we foresee it to contribute 190 million TL to our forest villagers and 2 billion TL to the country’s economy. used the phrases.
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