Plant biodiversity and unique yew stands of Istranca (Yıldız) mountains in European Turkey

Abstract

Population of Taxus baccata in the western point of Turkey has been identified in cooperation with Central Anatolia Forestry Research Institute and Bulgarian Academy of Science (BAS)during the project entitled “Conservation and Sustainable use of Biodiversity in Istranca (Yıldız) Mountain – Challenges and Opportunities for Promotion and Implementation of the Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Concept (37534303 TUR)”.Taxus baccata hotspot contains Cylamen coum var. coum; an endangered species according to the Bern Convention appendix I list, on European scale. The most important characteristics of this populationis the height of the trees. They are also the secondary tree population in the rainforest, which are completely grown under shade conditions.