İzmir expects profit from ’gumwood project’
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Anatolia News Agency
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 12, 2009 00:00
İZMİR - The biggest city in the Aegean Region, İzmir plants gumwoods in areas such as Çeşme, Urla and Karaburun, hoping to ensure a profitable business. About 17,000 gumwoods on 67 hectares are planted with plans to obtain gum. The plant begins to secrete gum in five years
In an effort to create gumwood forests around İzmir, about 17,000 gumwoods have been planted on 67 hectares owned by the İzmir High Technology Institute in the Urla district.
The gumwoods, planted in areas such as Çeşme, Urla and Karaburun, will bring money into Turkey in the next seven to eight years, according to Ümit Bora, a spokesman of the Peninsula Environment Platform.
"The gum obtained from gumwood seeds in the area and the gumwoods already rich in gum will be used in the new seeds by the inoculation method," Bora said. "Work to identify new gumwoods and work to rehabilitate existing gumwoods are conducted at the same time. A cooperative was founded recently to develop the 400 gumwoods planted in the Çeşme Alaçatı district in 1998."
According to research conducted by Professor Murat İsfendiyar, an academic at Ege University, 150 to 160 tons of gum resin are used in Turkey, Bora said. Gum production is ongoing in İzmir's Çeşme, Çiftlikköy and Alaçatı districts, he said, adding that about 250 gumwoods were taken into protection in 1995 under a Monuments Board decision.
The gumwood areas are also known to attract ecological tourism. Gum resin can be used to produce food and beverages with gum flavor, gum jam, rakı, sweets and ice cream.
Bora said gum and gum oil have been used for years, contribute much to human health and cure many illnesses, and that research is ongoing in this area. "Gum ensures oral hygiene because it includes antiseptic substances. It is used to treat stomach and intestine infections," Bora saıd. "It is known to be effective in fighting bacteria called Helicobacter pylori. It lowers cholesterol in addition to its many other uses."
About gumwood
Gumwood is a green plant that grows to a height of 4 or 5 meters. Producing resin that has many uses, gumwood grows naturally on Sakız Island and in the Çeşme district. The plant is also used in garden decoration because it has a pleasant smell and a decorative appearance. Because it is green year-round, gumwoods prevent soil erosion. Gumwood can also withstand drought better than olive and fig trees because its roots can grow as far as 20 to 25 meters underground.
The gumwood can renew itself in a short time, even after forest fires. The plant begins to secrete gum after five years and can secrete up to 2 kilograms after 15 years. One kilogram of gum is priced between $75 and $100, depending on the quality.
The gumwoods, planted in areas such as Çeşme, Urla and Karaburun, will bring money into Turkey in the next seven to eight years, according to Ümit Bora, a spokesman of the Peninsula Environment Platform.
"The gum obtained from gumwood seeds in the area and the gumwoods already rich in gum will be used in the new seeds by the inoculation method," Bora said. "Work to identify new gumwoods and work to rehabilitate existing gumwoods are conducted at the same time. A cooperative was founded recently to develop the 400 gumwoods planted in the Çeşme Alaçatı district in 1998."
According to research conducted by Professor Murat İsfendiyar, an academic at Ege University, 150 to 160 tons of gum resin are used in Turkey, Bora said. Gum production is ongoing in İzmir's Çeşme, Çiftlikköy and Alaçatı districts, he said, adding that about 250 gumwoods were taken into protection in 1995 under a Monuments Board decision.
The gumwood areas are also known to attract ecological tourism. Gum resin can be used to produce food and beverages with gum flavor, gum jam, rakı, sweets and ice cream.
Bora said gum and gum oil have been used for years, contribute much to human health and cure many illnesses, and that research is ongoing in this area. "Gum ensures oral hygiene because it includes antiseptic substances. It is used to treat stomach and intestine infections," Bora saıd. "It is known to be effective in fighting bacteria called Helicobacter pylori. It lowers cholesterol in addition to its many other uses."
About gumwood
Gumwood is a green plant that grows to a height of 4 or 5 meters. Producing resin that has many uses, gumwood grows naturally on Sakız Island and in the Çeşme district. The plant is also used in garden decoration because it has a pleasant smell and a decorative appearance. Because it is green year-round, gumwoods prevent soil erosion. Gumwood can also withstand drought better than olive and fig trees because its roots can grow as far as 20 to 25 meters underground.
The gumwood can renew itself in a short time, even after forest fires. The plant begins to secrete gum after five years and can secrete up to 2 kilograms after 15 years. One kilogram of gum is priced between $75 and $100, depending on the quality.