Conservation and sustainable utilization of ground orchid bulbs in Turkey

Ground orchid bulbs in Turkey are harvested and used since antiquity for the production of salep (dried and milled orchids bulbs). It is now used as medicine, drink and as binder in ice cream. It is estimated that at least 10-20 million of orchid bulbs are collected annually in Turkey. The production of salep and the over-use of orchid bulbs resulted in the rarefaction of these and could conduct to their extinction, if no alternative solution can be found. Salep is generally gathered by villagers and shepherds. A simple prohibition of harvesting would deprive salep collectors of a source of income and thus is no realistic option.

A sustainable solution should contribute to the long-term conservation and increase the abundance of orchids in their natural environment as well as enable people to gain income out of production and trade of salep.

We propose to perform in vivo and in vitro (artificial) propagation of native species used for salep production and to create a local cooperative for farming and sustainable use of orchids. Simultaneously, the protection of the natural habitats will be establish through the implementation of a nature management plan and the development of alternative sources of income for the villagers, like a better commercialisation of local products.

Part of the salep species are native in Switzerland too. They are entirely protected and some species are endangered. Artificial propagation would be a valuable contribution towards sustainability, as native orchids could be reintroduced and it could open new commercial possibilities like production of ornamental plants and cut flowers.

The project is intended to last five years and it could serve as a model for similar projects in Turkey and eastern Europe.

The financial help of the SDC/Swisscontact allows us to realise the preliminary studies necessary to submit the proposal to a European program that could finance the entire project.


Project leader
University of Applied Sciences Waedenswil
Expert Center for Plants and Environment
8820 Waedenswil
Jean-Bernard Baechtiger : j.baechtiger@hswzfh.ch

Project partners
Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey
Sütchü University, Kahramanmarash, Turkey
Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey