Save the historic tree, say ecologists
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Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 13, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - The common hackberry tree faces extinction in Turkey, an Aegean-based environmental organization has declared. Common hackberries used to be seen mainly in Dalyan but they are visibly decreasing.
"They used to provide shadows for philosophers," said a statement released by the Ecosystem Protection and Nature Lovers Foundation, or EKODOSD. "But after agricultural activities, construction and being cut for wood, there are so few common hackberries."
The statement focused on one particular common hackberry, quoting a German professor who visited the ancient town of Milet, which is 10 kilometers from Dalyan. The professor is said to have discovered that the tree, which was 25 meters in height, was 500 years old.
The tree, however, is about to be cut down to make way for roadwork in the area soon. The owner of the area on which the common hackberry tree stands complained about the process.
"The common hackberry is slow growing," said Mustafa Yağlı. "My father said that he used to play near the tree when he was a child. He died at the age of 95 and said the tree was almost at the same height during all those years."
If the General Directorate of Highways does not change its plans, the tree will not have many more years ahead.
"Of course the road should be made, but it can pass by another route," he said. "They are cutting 70 olive trees on my field. I spoke to the engineers and told them cutting olive trees is alright, but please do not touch the hackberry tree." EKODOSD said it would apply to the Cultural and Environmental Protection Committee to stop the process.
The statement focused on one particular common hackberry, quoting a German professor who visited the ancient town of Milet, which is 10 kilometers from Dalyan. The professor is said to have discovered that the tree, which was 25 meters in height, was 500 years old.
The tree, however, is about to be cut down to make way for roadwork in the area soon. The owner of the area on which the common hackberry tree stands complained about the process.
"The common hackberry is slow growing," said Mustafa Yağlı. "My father said that he used to play near the tree when he was a child. He died at the age of 95 and said the tree was almost at the same height during all those years."
If the General Directorate of Highways does not change its plans, the tree will not have many more years ahead.
"Of course the road should be made, but it can pass by another route," he said. "They are cutting 70 olive trees on my field. I spoke to the engineers and told them cutting olive trees is alright, but please do not touch the hackberry tree." EKODOSD said it would apply to the Cultural and Environmental Protection Committee to stop the process.