Emirgan Korusu

^{A Visitor at Emirgan Korusu (}Anadolu Ajansı⁾

Emirgan Korusu is a recreational area of approximately 47 hectares located on the Rumelian shore of the Bosphorus in the Sarıyer district of Istanbul, between Baltalimanı and İstinye. ^【1】 Known since antiquity and the Byzantine era for its dense cedar forests, the area was called "Kyparades" during the Byzantine period, meaning "cedar forest". ^【2】 During the Ottoman period, the grove was granted in the mid-16th century to Nişancı Feridun Bey and later assigned in the 17th century to Emirgünoğlu Tahmasb Kulu Han, who renamed it after himself as Yusuf Paşa; the current name "Emirgan" derives from this individual. ^【3】 This area, frequently visited by IV Murad and known as "Mirgün Gardens", was used over time by various grand viziers and sheikhs al-Islam, and from the reign of I Abdülhamid onward, it was equipped with külliye complexes and religious structures. ^【4】

The Emirgan Hamid-i Evvel Camii, located at the center of the grove, was built in 1196 AH/1781 CE under the orders of I Abdülhamid. ^【5】 According to its foundation deed, a bathhouse, water mill, shops, bakery, boathouse, and pier were constructed alongside the mosque, transforming the area into a külliye complex. ^【6】 In the 19th century, Emirgan became one of the summer residences along the Bosphorus and developed into a prestigious neighborhood where state officials resided during the reign of II Mahmud; the construction of a coastal road between 1956 and 1960 significantly altered the neighborhood’s shoreline fabric and quay structure. ^【7】

The buildings within the grove reflect the artistic sensibilities of their time, influenced by Baroque and Empire styles. Structures renovated during the reign of II Mahmud stand out with unique decorative details such as the "Sultan Mahmud Sun" motif and characteristic Empire-style wooden ceilings and mahfil arrangements. ^【8】 Among the structures in the grove is the muvakkithane, built in 1260 AH/1844 CE during the reign of Sultan Abdülmecid, which has survived to the present day as an important architectural element designed to determine the times for the call to prayer. ^【9】

Emirgan Korusu is one of Istanbul’s most botanically rich areas. Botanical surveys have identified more than 120 species of trees and shrubs within the grove, including native species such as horse chestnut, hornbeam, silver birch, plane tree, alder, pedunculate oak, and silver linden, as well as exotic species such as the camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora), of which this is the only known specimen in Istanbul. ^【10】

^{Lale Mevsimi (}Anadolu Ajansı⁾

However, the grove’s ecosystem is affected by both biotic and abiotic factors. Research conducted between 2017 and 2018 identified bark and ambrosia beetle species—Scolytus mali, Xyleborus monographus, and Platypus cylindrus—as causes of decline in oak (Quercus robur L.) and wild cherry trees within the grove. ^【11】 Predatory beetle species such as Aulonium ruficorne and Rhizophagus depressus have been found to play a natural role in maintaining ecological balance against these pests. ^【12】

The extensive vegetation of Emirgan Korusu serves as a data source for city-wide pollen calendar studies. Research based on 2020 data recorded pollen from 44 distinct taxa in the grove’s atmosphere. ^【13】 April was identified as the month with the highest pollen concentration, and the taxon responsible for the most intense pollen release was Pinus (pine). ^【14】 This necessitates that individuals suffering from pollen allergies plan their visits to the grove with careful attention to its vegetation and the pollen dispersal period (March–September). ^【15】

^{Emirgan Korusu Ağaçlarında Bir Sincap (}Anadolu Ajansı⁾

By the 1970s, Emirgan Korusu had suffered extensive degradation due to neglect and improper use. Çelik Gülersoy, whose mission through his work with the Turkish Automobile and Tourism Association (TTOK) was to rescue Istanbul’s vanishing historical heritage, initiated a major restoration of the Malta and Çadır kiosks and park areas within the grove beginning in 1979. ^【16】 These efforts, carried out in accordance with Gülersoy’s principle of "not losing our identity while turning toward the West", played a pivotal role in fostering a sense of urban identity among Istanbul’s citizens and in transforming the grove into a public art and cultural space. ^【17】