The contribution of bay laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) to rural economy and socioeconomic analysis

Turkey has a very rich variety of non-wood forest products. Non-wood forest products provide an important source of economic income in the Turkish economy. Mediterranean bay laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) is one of the important plants in the group of medicinal and aromatic plants and traded in the world and Turkey. 90-95% of the need for bay laurel leaf in the world is supplied from Turkey. Therefore, bay laurel is one of the most exported medicinal and aromatic plants in Turkey. Muğla is one of the important provinces in Turkey since bay laurel is widely grown and has high potential to rural economy. In this study, therefore the current and potential economic size of the Mediterranean bay laurel market in Muğla province, the contribution of this value to the rural economy, the situation of the foraging villagers, who are the biggest element of the production process, in the production process and their thoughts on bay laurel production have been tried to be determined. In the study, data obtained from the surveys of face to face interviews were used as the primary data source. Furthermore, the map sources and statistical data were obtained by relevant public institutions. The surveys were applied to 377 participants in 8 districts, by revealing the distribution of people who produce and deal with bay laurel in Muğla. The results showed that the majority of the participants dealing with the business of bay laurel leaves were villagers/gatherers, the people dealing with bay laurel also earned income from different jobs, the average annual income from bay laurel production was 5.757,08 TL (1.008.24 US Dollars), and the villager/gatherer group sold the wet bay laurel shoot for an average of 1.6 TL (0.3 US Dollar). The size of the bay laurel trade in Muğla was calculated as 39.418.630 TL (6.903.438 US Dollars) and the potential economic price in Muğla was calculated as 141.214.852,7 TL (24.731.148 US Dollars).