Bal ormanlarindaki̇ bi̇tki̇ taksonlari: doğançay bal ormanlari örneği̇

Turkiye has significant potential for beekeeping due to its rich plant diversity and favorable ecological conditions. In recent years, "Honey Production Forests" have been established to effectively utilize this potential. These areas contribute substantially to the development of beekeeping by leveraging the country's floristic richness and existing colony capacity. This study focuses on the Doğançay Honey Production Forest located in the Geyve District of Sakarya Province. The research involves the identification of plant taxa naturally distributed in the area, as well as an assessment of the social, cultural, and economic aspects of local residents engaged in beekeeping activities. A total of 50 taxa were identified belonging to 29 plant families that are naturally occurring and beneficial for apiculture. Floristic analysis revealed that the months of April, May, June, and July represent the peak flowering period, which is critical for nectar and pollen availability and thus essential for beekeeping productivity. Survey data indicate that both traditional and modern beekeeping methods are employed in the region. Environmental factors and training have been shown to significantly influence production efficiency. Moreover, it has been found that increasing government support and preventing the sale of counterfeit honey are of critical importance for the sustainability of the beekeeping sector. In conclusion, the establishment of specialized areas such as honey production forests contributes not only to improved productivity and product quality in beekeeping but also supports rural development and the conservation of biodiversity. Keywords: Honey forests, Beekeeping, Plant taxa, Doğançay, Sakarya.