Uludağ National Park, located in the southern and southeastern regions of Bursa province, stands as a celebrated natural and historical site in Turkey. Originally opened as a national park in 1961, it boasts a striking 13,024 hectares and has been meticulously maintained over many years. Accessible by both road and cable car, the site offers a simple connection to its varied scenery, enabling guests to discover valleys and hills along well-kept paths on the northern and southern sides of the mountain.

Beginning in 1963, Uludağ National Park was run from Kirazlıyayla, at 1500 meters under the Forest Regional Directorate. Senior Forest Engineer Orhan Camcı was crucial in creating the infrastructure of the park over this important era. Leading several projects, Camcı oversaw the Kirazlıyayla management center, opened the Sarıalan road, and developed campsites including Sarıalan and Çobankaya. Their projects preserved the natural beauty of the park while laying the foundation for recreational events.

One of the most noteworthy additions to the park was the building of a management center at 1900 meters that doubles as the natural history museum and the park administration. Ski slopes, a deer breeding zone in Yeşiltarla, and roads and facilities compliant with national park criteria were among the infrastructural developments. Early developments made Uludağ National Park a destination for adventure seekers as well as for those who like the natural surroundings.

To indicate a shift toward integrated conservation and sustainable use practices, the regional directorate changed in 1972 to become the National Park Forest Management Directorate.

Uludağ National Park’s ecological and cultural value has been highlighted over years as protection of it has evolved. The area changed its classification in 2006 into zones varying in degree of protection. Of the park’s total area, about 86% was categorized as a 1st-degree natural protected area and the remaining percentage as a 2nd-degree zone. Later rules in 2009 split the park into three separate zones: Controlled Use Area, Limited Use Area, and Absolute Protection Area.

Comprising 84% of the park, the Absolute Protection Area is a haven for nature under strict control meant to prohibit human intervention. Restricted Use and Controlled Use Areas follow rigorous criteria allowing some development and leisure activities. Only 16% of the park outside the Absolute Protection Area consists in tourism facilities including hotels and ski resorts.

The tourism zones fall into the first and second development regions. Now completely developed, the previous site boasts 36 lodging and leisure facilities covering both public and private investments. Four hotels in the 2nd Development Region, which was designated as a tourism zone in 1986, meet the demands of guests. Still, the building of new facilities is forbidden in both zones in order to preserve the park’s biological balance.

Environmentalists are worried about recent developments. Establishing the Uludağ Area Presidency, a plan was proposed in December 2022 to hand management to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Completed in 2023, this modification reversed the national park designation from about 2,000 hectares, therefore posing questions regarding possible decreases in conservation initiatives.

Uludağ National Park has become well-known as a major participant in ski tourism since 1933, so ranking among Turkey’s best winter attractions. Complementing 31 ski courses for a total distance of 35 kilometers, the park includes 24 mechanical facilities including chairlifts, teleskis, and a gondola. Under Uludağ A.Ş., these facilities have given guests an outstanding skiing experience since 2017.

For outdoor enthusiasts all year round, the park presents a rich range of events going much beyond skiing. Participating in hiking, trekking, climbing, mountaineering, canyoning, and snow walking draws guests ready to completely savor the unspoiled beauty of the surrounding landscape.

The park is adjacent to Bursa, which promotes interaction with seven surrounding rural communities including Alaçam, Kirazlı, and Süleymaniye. Now classified as neighborhoods based on municipal law, the communities rely on age-old livelihoods including farming, logging, and beekeeping, mostly conducted out inside the limits of the park.

Uludağ National Park faces great environmental difficulties even with its authorized protection. Research published in 2021 underlined the negative consequences of land degradation and erosion, particularly in areas near hotels and ski resorts. Comparisons between 1985 and 2019 found a drop in water surfaces, a loss in flora, and an increase in bare rock exposure in the top zones. Still, some areas inaccessible to humans showed a little increase in dense natural woods, suggesting the park’s capacity for survival apart from human intervention.

The park underwent a major and controversial change in July 2023 when its 2,000-hectare portion with tourism facilities lost its national park title. Currently under control by the Uludağ Area Presidency, the reclassification has sparked debates on the probable relaxation of conservation rules and the consequences this could have on the long-term environmental viability of the park.