türkçe links to original Turkish article
(Hurriyet Newspaper, 20 December 2025)
Tree-hugger with a heart.
In Zonguldak, Engin Zaman, well-known cave expert /environmentalist,
reported that trees were being cut down in the forest near the Gökgöl
Tunnels on the Ankara road on May 19, 2024, while on his way home.
An investigation by the Regional Forestry Directorate revealed that a
yew tree, estimated to be 1183 years old, had been felled. Teams
determined that a subcontractor firm working on a stream rehabilitation
project for the State Water Works was illegally cutting trees in the forest
and filed a report.
The Regional Forestry Directorate teams fined the firm 45,090 TL (about
$1,000 for "unauthorized tree cutting" and "clearing land in a forested area."
Environmental associations and Engin Zaman filed a criminal complaint
against the firm. The prosecutor's office issued a decision of
non-prosecution. Following an appeal, the court determined that the
cutting was authorized and cancelled the 45,090 Turkish Lira fine. (!)
In happier days...
The tree was put up for auction by the Regional Forestry Directorate as
firewood at 2,000 TL per cubic meter. Engin Zaman won the auction by
paying 20,000 TL. Zaman stated that he had contacted various institutions
to arrange the tree's delivery and decided to donate parts of it to the newly
established Nature and History Museum after contacting the Istanbul
University Faculty of Forestry. The 21-meter-long yew tree was cut into
pieces and loaded onto a truck for shipment.
Engin Zaman said, “We calculated the age of this tree together with
Professor Barbaros Yaman from Bartın University. This is an 1183-year-old
yew tree. It is one of the most valuable trees in the world, and unfortunately,
it would have become firewood. This is a historical artifact. I didn't want
this historical artifact to be lost. The auction process cost 20,000 TL”
OUCH!
Professor Dr. Ünal Akkemik, a faculty member at Istanbul University-
Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Forestry, stated, "Initially, some parts of the tree
will be displayed at our Faculty of Forestry for educational and scientific
purposes. In the later stages, they will be included in the museum that is
planned to be established."
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