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Efforts are underway to protect a 70-year-old tea tree in Rize's Cayeli district and integrate it into local ecotourism. Located on land owned by Hasan Bekir in Yanikdag village, the tree has remained unpruned for seven decades, growing to a height of 5 meters (16.4 feet).
Professor Turan Yuksek, from the Department of Landscape Architecture at Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, recently examined the tree, which has become a major attraction for both villagers and tourists. He noted that tea trees of this size are virtually nonexistent across the tea-cultivating areas of the Eastern Black Sea region.
"Through our inventory studies, we identified two such tea trees in the province," Yuksek said. "We visited this specific tree because it thrives within its natural ecosystem. After taking samples, we completed our project work, publishing an ecological assessment of the soil characteristics alongside landscape planning and design studies."
Believing the tree holds monumental heritage value due to its age, Yuksek explained its potential: "We want to promote it as a photography hotspot, especially for capturing meaningful images during special occasions."
"Looking at that tree, I believe it has witnessed Rize's climatic shifts and survived as an excellent genetic resource. Protecting it and conducting further research will offer vital evidence of the tea plant's developmental journey in Türkiye, while serving as a valuable asset for tourism," the professor concluded.
Hasan Bekir, the owner of the garden where the tea tree stands, said the tree has survived to this day since the period roughly 70 years ago when his grandfather, Ali Bekir, established the tea garden.
Noting that he never cut the shoot his grandfather left behind as a keepsake, Bekir said the tree, part of which was damaged by snow, has now reached a trunk diameter of about 70 centimeters and a height of 5 meters.
Relating that people show interest in the tree, Bekir said: "Quite a lot of people come and go. Some people visit the tree. We aren't able to personally attend to the tree ourselves.''
''If the authorities responsible for historical matters were to come and take an interest in this tree, we would truly be pleased. It has borne witness to history, surviving from its earliest period to this day. We would be pleased if it were placed under protection as a monumental tree." The owner claimed.
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Village resident Mehmet Cakiroglu also said he was surprised when he saw the tree, stating: "We are tea farmers ourselves; we make our living from tea. According to what our grandfathers told us, this corresponds to the date tea first arrived here.''
''That means this particular tea plant has certainly never been harvested from that date until now. There are already people who come to see it, but of course it would be even better if it were officially registered as a monumental tree." He added.
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