A RESEARCH ON ARBORETUMS WITHIN TOURISM CONCEPT

Abstract

Tourism as a social activity comes to the forefront with its cultural and economic dimensions. The tourism sector keeps pace with the changing world. Consequently 3S-sea, sand, sun-; defining tourism and holiday mentality has reached up to substantial character. People prefer to spend time in nature, meet different cultures and experience the values of places by themselves either individually or as a group in holidays. Thus alternative types of tourism occurred against mass tourism called eco-tourism generally. The importance of botanic gardens and arboretums which give an opportunity to explore plant variety and geographical characteristics become significant to support nature tourism and botanic tourism day by day. The functions and benefits of arboretums are handled and then Trakya University Balkan Arboretum Project is mentioned for tourism destination of Edirne in this study.

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International Scientific Conference “UNITECH 2016” – Gabrovo
IV-240
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE
18 – 19 November 2016, GABROVO
A RESEARCH ON ARBORETUMS WITHIN TOURISM CONCEPT
Damla ATİK
Trakya University
Candan ZÜLFİKAR Gökçen BAYRAK YILMAZ
Trakya University Trakya University
Abstract
Tourism as a social activity comes to the forefront with its cultural and economic dimensions. The tourism sector
keeps pace with the changing world. Consequently 3S -sea, sand, sun-; defining tourism and holiday mentality has
reached up to substantial character. People prefer to spend time in nature, meet different cultures and experience the
values of places by themselves either individually or as a group in holidays. Thus alternative types of tourism occurred
against mass tourism called eco-tourism generally. The importance of botanic gardens and arboretums which give an
opportunity to explore plant variety and geographical characteristics become significant to support nature tourism and
botanic tourism day by day. The functions and benefits of arboretums are handled and then Trakya University Balkan
Arboretum Project is mentioned for tourism destination of Edirne in this study.
Keywords: Tourism, Botanic Tourism, Arboretum, Trakya University Balkan Arboretum, Edirne.
INTRODUCTION
Tourism and holiday mentality have
substantial variety such as religious tourism,
thermal tourism, congress tourism, camping
tourism, nature tourism and botanic tourism.
People desire to be in touch with nature,
experience daily life and know about culture
of places which they go, see natural and
artificial values on side. While the quantitative
changes of tourism can be measured by
counting visitors or tourism income;
qualitative changes are required to be
examined. The aim of providing sustainability
for natural sources is one of the main
qualitative changes of tourism.
Sustainability includes managing, using
within their capacity and handing down the
next generations of natural sources.
Sustainability must be considered in tourism as
well as other domains. We -the people-
consuming the world rapidly have noticed
dangers of future and are in quest of re-
shaping our lives. New tourism types occurred
against mass tourism and attendant to questing
sustainability of natural sources as well as
tourism. These new types are known as eco-
tourism but also can be given similar names
such as nature tourism, alternative tourism,
soft tourism, green tourism, responsible
tourism and conscious tourism. Observing
butterflies or birds, camping, diving, rafting,
parasailing, riding bikes or horses, climbing,
fishing and planting can be counted among
alternative tourism activities.
BOTANIC TOURISM
Botanic tourism arose for exploring
different plant variety and geographical
characteristics. It plays constructive and
positive role for both raising the awareness of
visitors besides local people and saving
infrequent species of animals and plants
especially. Qualification of plants, their
rearing habitat, blossom time and most
attractive period should be known so that tour
route should be planned according to them.
Geographical characteristics, climate
variety, and being a bridge between three
continents make Turkey auspicious for having
a unique plant variety. For instance, Europe
has totally 12.000 species of plants. Turkey
has 9.000. While the total number of endemic
species of plants in Europe is 2.750, it is 3.000
in Turkey. England has 2.000 species of plants
in total while Turkey has the number 9.000.
Having such richness requires to be used
logically and protected well. Increasing

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number of botanical gardens and arboretums is
a significant way of protecting and sustaining
varieties.
ARBORETUM
Consuming the eco-systems rapidly and
trying to make living in environments that are
lack of healthy conditions, arboretums are one
of the most important solution ways for
people, animals and plants. Arboretum is a
nature part that is rigged with native and exotic
woody plant taxon which are:
• collected and named properly according to
their origin and age,
• planted, cultivated and exhibited in suitable
areas,
• used for the purpose of protection,
exhibition, education and scientific
examination.
In another words, arboretums are living tree
museums that are composed with knowledge,
labor and patience. The idea of “arboretum
concept” was thought in Europe by the middle
of 16th and 17th century. Arboretums and
botanical gardens were the source of pride for
developed cities besides their civil
architectural and historical values. Most of the
arboretums in the world were founded long
years ago and serve generally within the scope
of universities. Thus an arboretum is a sign for
level of development of that university. The
number of arboretums and botanical gardens is
over 1.500 worldwide. More than %60 of them
is located in Europe, America and the country
of the former Soviet Union. Annual numbers
of visitors are also remarkable. Morris
Arboretum, University of Pennsylvania with
130,000 visitors annually, Westonbirt, The
National Arboretum in UK is managed by the
Forestry Commission and is renowned
worldwide for its tree and shrub collection.
Home to five national collections, the
arboretum covers 243 hectares (600 acres) and
contains 16,000 labelled specimens. Visitor
numbers are 350,000 a year, with a
membership of over 28,000.
Visitor numbers are up at the National
Arboretum and the National Botanic Gardens
in Canberra, Australia despite an overall fall in
international tourism in the Canberra region.
During the past financial year 530,000 people
visited the arboretum, an increase of almost
40,000 on the 490,700 recorded in 2013-14.
According to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Annual Report and Accounts 2012/13 number
of visits to the gardens (millions)
(2008/2009)1.818, (2009/2010) 1.701,
(2010/2011) 1.630, (2011/2012) 1.668,
(2012/2013) 1.363. Founded in 1872 as the
first public arboretum in North America, the
Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is a
leading center for the study of plants and
biodiversity and has over 250,000 visitors
annually. Karaca Arboretum in Yalova Turkey
is settled on 6.5 hectare and has 15.000 visitors
annually.
FUNCTIONS OF ARBORETUMS
Arboretums are sort of public
establishments serving a recreational mission
for local people besides floristic education and
research of instructors and students. They
increase the variety, economic value and
efficiency of the region by bringing exotic
species. Thus it can be determined which
variety and form can be planted at that region
besides researchers can make scientific studies
without travelling long and spending much. By
introducing different species, love of nature
and tree can be developed and consciousness
of protection can be spread. Arboretums can
also be a source of material production for
nursery gardens.
Being a part of green area system in cities:
Arboretums are planned as huge open spaces
to serve as a gathering place for among
recreational areas. Generally they are located
far away from city center. They can be either a
space by their own or a part of botanical
garden. They also have an importance with
their esthetical and prestige value in cities and
urban landscape.
Research-educational and social functions:
Arboretums are cultural wealth and living
laboratories for each level of education; from
students of primary school to master ones
(Fig.1). They serve local people of every age
also. Tree, shrub, bush, and several plant
varieties can be learned from arboretums.
People can observe and explore these plants in

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rearing habitat thus this improves
consciousness for protection.
Fig. 1. Trakya University Department of
Landscape Architecture Students is Visiting
Atatürk Arboretum,
Bio-climatic and ecological functions:
Arboretums constitute an eco-system and
integrity with rich plant varieties and all
animals from living on sky to under the soil.
The existence of arboretums establishes
ecological balance and has influence for
rehabilitating the climates in cities where
dynamic balances of bio-diversity are ignored.
Psychological functions: Urban green and
open areas are places where people take refuge
in; running from crowd, dirt, noise and
monotone life style. These places being retreat
center, restful and fresh areas, have great
importance for mental health. Arboretums also
make connection between people and green
areas. They make benefit both physically and
psychologically for people living in cities.
Recreational functions: Arboretums contain
several functional areas with multi-functioned
usages and supply relaxation in terms of visual
and physical. Viewing platforms, lakes,
playgrounds, picnic areas, cafeterias, walking
trails, bicycle lanes and many other
opportunities are preferable for families and
children. Thus arboretums are accepted as
multi-functional recreational centers.
TRAKYA UNIVERSITY BALKAN
ARBORETUM
Trakya University and related foundations
proved scientifically that despite Edirne has a
rich flora including Balkan plant species, there
exist no arboretum nearby. University rector
and academicians agreed about a foundation of
arboretum in Edirne at 1996. Several
enterprises and researches were done with
periodical interruptions caused by changing
management since then. Finally at 2013
arboretum project came to the fore by appeal
of Trakya University Rectorship. “Hayat
Ağacım” (Tree of Life) project has been
accepted and supported by Trakya
Development Agency 2013-2014 / Socio-
Economic Development Financial Support
Program / Priority Area for Improving
“Culture and Tourism” and “Collaboration and
Attempts for Introduction of the Region”.
The arboretum area is in Trakya
University Balkan Settlement and is about 20
hectare. Existent flora includes 34 species of
tree and bush; 14 of hydrophytic plant and
Güllapoğlu River. Protecting natural
formation, 6 areas are constituted during
planning. First of all dominant tree species will
be located; and then bushes will be transferred
after 4-5 years to complete the vegetation of
the area according to this program. Thus
Balkan Arboretum will consist of the
following parts (Fig.2):
• Trakya Region Forest Land
• Exotic Plant Exhibition Areas
• Anatolian Trees Exhibition Areas
• Education Prairie
• Tree Exhibition and Education Area
• Natural Formation
The 1.Stage of Trakya University Balkan
Arboretum has been completed by “Hayat
Ağacım” Project on June 2015 with
collaboration of Department of Landscape
Architecture and Department of Biology.
CONCLUSION
The natural potentials of Balkan Arboretum
are being in the university settlement, visual
richness, Güllapoğlu River, variety of vista
points and sloping topography. By establishing
this arboretum:
• Great opportunity will be given to
students and researchers
• Conscious and aware population will
grow about environment and nature

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• People will know well about and love
nature more,
• Recreational services will be supplied,
• Natural values will be hand down the
next generations.
Fig. 2. Plan of Trakya University Balkan
Arboretum Vegetation Areas
Arboretums should be irreplaceable
destinations within their functions and spatial
services. Multi-dimensional contributions of
arboretums for alternative tourism types are
put forward with this study. It is recorded that
several tourists passes through Edirne border
gate*. Attracting local and foreign tourists by
Balkan Arboretum will make benefit for
Edirne in terms of culture, economy and
prestige. Introduction of Balkan Arboretum
will also prove the respect of our city for the
environment. It is obvious that Trakya
University Balkan Arboretum will play a
significant role for increasing tourism potential
of Edirne.
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bys.trakya.edu.tr/file/download/79249811
*: Border gates of Edirne becomes the 3rd city in
Turkey January-August 2016, see the link:
http://www.ktbyatirimisletmeler.gov.tr/TR,9854/si
nir-giris-cikis-istatistikleri.html