Turkey fines up to 699,000 lira for harming protected kum zambağı in Kızılırmak Delta

The Kızılırmak Delta bird sanctuary, a 56,000‑hectare wetland in Samsun province that lies on UNESCO’s tentative World Heritage list, is home to hundreds of plant and animal species. Among its endemic flora is the kum zambağı, a rare, onion‑like plant that grows on shifting coastal sands and is protected because its habitat is shrinking.

Authorities announced that anyone who uproots or damages the kum zambağı will face an administrative fine ranging from 387,000 to 699,000 Turkish lira. Samsun Metropolitan Municipality’s Wetland and Bird Sanctuary Officer Kadir Yılmaz emphasized the plant’s ecological value and reminded visitors that the area can be explored by open‑top buses, electric cars, bicycles or on foot.

The penalties are intended to deter illegal collection and safeguard biodiversity within the delta, reinforcing the region’s conservation measures under UNESCO oversight.