Medicinal and aromatic plant potential of Bartın province and its place and importance in socio economic development of the province

This study comprehensively examines the impact of Bartın Province's geographical, climatic and biological infrastructure on its potential for medicinal and aromatic plants, and the role this resource plays in regional socioeconomic development. Structured surveys and semi-structured interviews were employed to gather socio-economic data on producer perceptions, technology use, marketing and access to finance. The findings revealed that local producers face various challenges, including deficiencies in education and advisory services, uncertainty regarding sustainable practices, and difficulties in marketing and accessing international markets. There were also positive perceptions of distillation and extraction technologies, as well as issues with accessing financial resources. Additionally, climate change and soil erosion were identified as primary threats to production continuity. Consequently, the following strategies have been recommended: modular training programmes for regional development; simplification of financial mechanisms; producer cooperatives; development of an effective advisory system; shared production infrastructure; and digital marketing strategies. These strategies will increase the potential for transforming Bartın's medicinal and aromatic plant resources into a sustainable development model.