Established in 2000, Küre Mountains National Park is a premier natural sanctuary located in Turkey’s Black Sea region. The area spans 80,000 hectares and includes districts in Kastamonu and Bartın provinces. The park is located inside the Küre Mountain range and boasts a breathtaking mix of landscapes, ecosystems, and natural treasures, making it one of Turkey’s most important protected places. With its mix of old-growth woods, canyons, caverns, and a diverse range of wildlife, the park has become a popular destination for nature enthusiasts, ecotourists, and environmentalists.

The Küre Mountains are well-known for their importance as a conservation site. The region, located in North Anatolia’s temperate woodlands, is part of the Euro-Siberian, Mediterranean, and Irano-Turanian phytogeographical zones, all of which contribute to its high biodiversity. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) listed the Küre Mountains as a priority protected area in 1988. This marked the start of formal attempts to preserve the region’s natural beauty, which culminated in the formation of the Küre Mountains National Park in 2000.

The park’s establishment was part of a larger initiative to protect Turkey’s diverse natural heritage, with significant contributions from the Turkish Ministry of Forestry and international organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization. These efforts attempted to preserve the area’s rich biodiversity as well as its cultural and environmental worth. The park includes a diverse range of ecosystems, from mixed fir and beech woods to rocky and coastal areas, making it an important region for wildlife and plant species. The installation of a buffer zone to provide further protection to the surrounding ecosystem aided the park’s establishment even more.

Küre Mountains National Park is well-known for its incredible biodiversity, making it one of Turkey’s most ecologically significant places. The park is home to a diverse range of plant and animal species, many of which are indigenous or unusual. The rich forests and diversified landscapes support 157 plant species, 59 of which are on the red list of threatened species. The park also serves as a shelter for 48 out of 160 mammal species, as well as many other wildlife species, making it an important site for ecological research and conservation.

The region is particularly famous for its diverse flora, with 122 major plant areas identified in the park’s western sector. These forests and meadows support rare orchids, indigenous herbs, and trees that have adapted to the Black Sea’s damp climate. The park also provides vital habitats for wildlife such as the Eurasian brown bear, wild boar, and a variety of bird species, which thrive in the protected environment. The Küre Mountains’ deep canyons and caves provide habitat for a variety of species, demonstrating the park’s geological and biological value.

In addition to its natural value, the Küre Mountains National Park has become a hotspot for ecotourism. The park’s diverse ecosystems, together with its rich cultural legacy, attract both local and foreign visitors. Ecotourism in the region first emerged in the early 2000s and has since been an important part of the park’s management strategy. Local communities have played an important role in this evolution, launching campaigns to improve knowledge of sustainable resource management and conservation methods.

WWF Turkey spearheaded one of the park’s primary ecotourism development projects, the Küre Mountains Ecotourism Project. This initiative aims to encourage sustainable tourism while also giving alternative income opportunities for local communities. By including the community in ecotourism activities such as wildlife viewing, hiking, and cultural tours, the project has provided new work opportunities, notably for women, youth, and foresters. These activities have served to raise awareness about the necessity of protecting the park’s natural and cultural riches while simultaneously improving the economic conditions of nearby people.

The Pinarbasi Ecotourism Center, which opened in 2001, played an important role in educating visitors and local guides about the park’s environmental value. The center offered nature guide training courses and designed guide maps to educate tourists about the park’s diverse flora, animals, and topography. By 2012, the park has been officially recognized as a Protected Area Network Park (PAN Parks), indicating that it met international protected area management requirements. This designation strengthened the park’s position in conservation and sustainable tourism.

Küre Mountains National Park provides a variety of outdoor activities, making it a perfect destination for adventurers and nature lovers. The park’s varied topography is ideal for activities like trekking, hiking, and mountain biking, allowing visitors to discover the virgin forests, rough landscapes, and beautiful canyons. Horseback riding, caving, canyoning, and rock climbing are among the park’s most popular activities. These activities not only give a fascinating way to explore the park, but they also help to boost the local economy by attracting ecotourists.

The park’s blend of natural beauty, recreational activities, and cultural legacy distinguishes it as a unique and essential destination for conservation and tourism. Its position as one of Turkey’s greatest protected areas assures that future generations can enjoy its natural beauty while also contributing to continuing conservation efforts that are critical to its preservation.