A research on the evaluation of the beekeeping potential of honey forests of the Aegean Region

Objective: This research was carried out to determine the current situation of honey forest areas created in the Aegean Region within the scope of the honey forest action plan of the General Directorate of Forestry. In addition, a survey was conducted with the beekeepers of the region, and the extent to which they benefit from the honey forests and their expectations were determined. Materials and Methods: Denizli, Uşak, İzmir, Manisa, Muğla and Aydın honey forests located in the Aegean Region; 80 beekeepers registered in Denizli, İzmir, Muğla and Aydın province Beekeepers' Associations formed the material of this research. Firstly, Denizli, İzmir and Muğla Regional Forestry Directorates were visited, and the honey forests of each province were determined. Information was obtained on how the honey forest areas were established and where and how the trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants that are the current nectar and pollen source were obtained. Afterwards, investigations were carried out in the Operation Chiefs, some honey forests in Aydın, Denizli and Muğla provinces, and Gözler, Uzunpınar, Belenardıç, Güzelpınar and Yağcılar villages in Denizli where thyme and lavender production is intense. In the survey study applied to the regional beekeepers, besides the socio-economic structures and technical knowledge of the beekeepers; opinions about honey forests and information about what needs to be done to make more use of honey forests were obtained. Results: In our country, the number of honey forests is 733 in 79 provinces at the end of 2022 and 763 today (April 2023). It is aimed to increase to 790 by the end of 2023. The number of honey forests in the Aegean Region as of 2022; A total of 22 honey forests in Denizli (16) and Uşak (6), a total of 35 in İzmir (23) and Manisa (12), a total of 28 honey forests in Aydın (9) and Muğla (19), and Afyonkarahisar (3) and Kütahya (22) with a total of 110 pieces. Red pine is dominant in the honey forests of Aydın, Denizli, İzmir and Muğla. It has also been determined that in honey forests, trees such as pear, hawthorn tree, wild apple and pear, shrubs such as chaste berry, perennial herbaceous plants such as thyme, wild lavender and sage, as well as almond saplings, rosemary seedlings and chaste berry seeds are planted in empty areas. It was determined that 73.8% of the surveyed beekeepers know about honey forests, and 25 out of 80 beekeepers take their bee colonies to honey forests. The ratio of beekeepers who took their colonies to honey forests differed (P<0.05) between provinces. Aydın beekeepers prefer honey forests more (45%) than other provinces; İzmir (38.10%) and Muğla (36.8%) are located after Aydın. Conclusion: In the Aegean region, a significant part of honey production is obtained from honey forests. However, a positive effect of honey forests on honey yield was determined. In this study, it was determined that beekeepers were generally aware of honey forests. However, it was determined that two-thirds of the respondents did not take their colonies to honey forests. Beekeepers who took their colonies to honey forests reported that they were generally satisfied with these areas but had difficulties in reaching them. They also stated that few plant species provide nectar and pollen to bees in honey forests and suffer from water shortages in these areas. Key Words: Aegean Region, honey forest, beekeeping, honey bee