The Special Environmental Protected Area (SEPA) of Köyceğiz and Dalyan is well known for the Liquidambar forests where a 286 hectares zone is set aside as a nature reserve and arboretum for the preservation of the species.
A large area also surrounds the town of Marmaris. Another large area covering nearly 100 hectares is also found in an inland region within Aydin. Yet another sweet-gum forest is situated in Burdur. The trees are also found locally in Denizli. The total area of pure sweetgum forests in Turkey covers 1,348 hectares, all in the southwestern regions of the country.
Liquidambar orientalis, commonly known as Oriental sweet gum or Turkish sweet gum, is a slow-growing, deciduous tree that is native to flood plains, valleys and stream-banks in south western Turkey. The Turkish name of the species is Günlük ağacı or Sığla ağacı. Günlük ağacı means “frankincense / myrrh tree”. “Sığla” refers to a marsh or boggy area. This gives away the fact that the Turkish Sweetgum tree has a preference for marshy ground. It is not frost hardy and needs a lot of rainfall or a high water table. In the Köyceğiz-Dalyan SEPA it is usually found close to rivers, wetlands and small drainage canals, (ariks).
The Turkish Sweetgum tree has been exploited for its resin for thousands of years and was used for embalming in ancient Egypt. The trees only secrete resin when its trunk is injured, similar to Pine trees and Maple trees. The resin stops fungal and bacterial infections from entering the injured tree.
The extraction of the resin and the production of the sweetgum oil (sığla yağı), as well as exports of these products, used to play an important role in the local economy.
In English, this oil is known under several names, shortly as Storax, to include all sweetgum oils, or as Styrax Levant, Asiatic Storax, Balsam Storax, Liquid Storax, Oriental Sweetgum Oil, or Turkish Sweetgum Oil. Diluted with a suitable base oil, it is used externally in traditional medicine for cuts, grazes, anxiety, coughs, bronchitis, fungal infections, ringworm, scabies, stress-related conditions and wounds. Because of its pleasant aroma, the resin was also burnt in ceremonies and during festivities.
The status of and developments regarding the protection of Turkish Sweetgum continues to occupy local and national environmental agenda at a critical level in Turkey. Among the main causes for the loss of Sweetgum forests was the cutting and felling of trees for opening new fields for agriculture, as well as the construction of three separate dams at localities which precisely corresponded to important habitats for the species. As such, Liquidambar Orientalis holds an important position in Turkey’s biodiversity and among endemic species, is one of its best-known symbols.
Immerse yourself in the serenity and tranquillity of a Liquidambar forest through an unforgettable Jeep Safari experience. Regardless of age, anyone can embark on a journey through the ancient lands of the Liquidambar forest. Our Dalyan Jeep Safari trip takes you off-road, winding through lush forest greens, woodlands, and scenic tracks, offering the opportunity to spot magnificent wildlife such as wild deer, as well as a variety of thriving birds and animals in this remarkable area.
Indulge in the ultimate way to appreciate the peacefulness, wildlife, and natural beauty of the Köyceğiz and Dalyan regions.
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