The Camili UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserve in Borçka district in Artvin, Turkey.Harada, S., & Yilmaz, I. Z. (2025). University Engagement and Students' Perspectives in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: A Case Study from Camili (Macahel), Türkiye. Journal of Social and Political Sciences, 8(3), https://doi.org/10.31014/aior.1991.08.03.585 The area covers a basin of 25,395 hectares, including Camili village and six other villages. The basin includes two protected natural forest areas, the Maral Waterfall, and two valleys. It was added to the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme in 2005 as the first and only biosphere reserve in Turkey.
Demographics The total population of the area is 1,132 (2025). The Camili Biosphere Reserve includes six villages: Camili, Düzenli, Efeler, Kayalar, Maral, and Uğur. The population of each village is as follows: Camili (186), Düzenli (228), Efeler (194), Kayalar (89), Maral (236), and Uğur (199).
The ethnic origin of Camili and its six surrounding villages is mostly believed to be Georgian. Camili region have relatively high levels of education and environmental awareness.Macahel Vakfı. (2021). Macahel Dergisi (Sayı 24) https://www.macahel.org.tr/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Macahel_Dergisi_Sayi_24.pdf
The local people's main sources of livelihood are agriculture and livestock farming, with hazelnut production being the main focus. In recent years, these have been joined by the growing ecotourism and beekeeping, which has developed around queen bee and honey production. 41% of villagers stated that they are involved in beekeeping, 30% in livestock farming and 22% in organic farming.İnanç, S. (2014). Camili biyosfer rezerv alanının sosyal dokusu ve yönetsel sorunları. II. Ulusal Akdeniz Orman ve Çevre Sempozyumu: Akdeniz ormanlarının geleceği: Sürdürülebilir toplum ve çevre, 22-24 Ekim 2014, Isparta, 321–330.. https://ormanweb.isparta.edu.tr/ormanvecevre/belgeler/bildiriler/32_K3-3.pdf
Climate The climate in the Camili Biosphere reserve is mostly a mix of humid oceanic and subtropical climates, with steady rain all year long. The area gets a large amount of rain each year, ranging from 1,315 mm to 1,564 mm. This is mainly because of the steep mountains, with the land rising from 350 meters in the valleys up to 3,400 meters at the peaks of the Karçal Mountains. This constant moisture is the main reason the region has such a thick rainforest ecosystem.
Temperature profile The average yearly temperature in the reserve is 11.9 °C. Because of the mountains, temperatures often drop below zero. The area has an average of 108 freezing days and between 121 and 140 frost days every year. July is usually the warmest month, with an average temperature of 19.2 °C. February is the coldest month, with an average of -2.1 °C. In extreme winter weather, the deepest valleys can get as cold as -20 °C to -24 °C.
Seasonal variations Winters in the reserve are long and harsh. Snowfall is heavy and often reaches 2 to 3 meters deep. In the past, this massive amount of snow made it impossible to travel by land between the Macahel valley and other parts of Turkey for up to five months of the year. This long isolation is what shaped the independent culture of the local villages. High up in the mountains, the snow can stay on the ground until late May.
Summers, on the other hand, are mild but very humid. The thick forest canopy traps moisture in the air. This humidity keeps the area from getting too hot in the summer and creates the perfect environment for the region's rare plants and the native Caucasian honey bee.
Culture
Architecture
The Camili (Macahel) valley has preserved a distinctive tradition of Vernacular architecture shaped by its humid temperate rainforest environment and geographic isolation. Traditional buildings are constructed mainly from local timber such as spruce, chestnut (wood), and oak combined with stone foundations adapted to steep slopes.Karahan, E.; Saatçi, S. (2020). Camili Basin (Macahel) Traditional Houses. Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 16: 425–444. Retrieved April 7, 2026. https://dergi.fsm.edu.tr/index.php/ia/article/view/1000 FSM A characteristic construction method is the çantı (log construction) technique, in which wooden logs are interlocked at the corners without the use of nails.
Traditional woodworking is an important cultural expression, especially in house interiors and religious buildings, where carved and painted wooden decorations reflect regional interpretations of Seljuk architecture and Ottoman architecture.Önal, R. Ç.; Köşklü, Z. (2020). Trabzon'da Geç Dönem Osmanlı Camilerinde Ahşap Mihraplar. Sanat Tarihi Dergisi (in Turkish). 29 (2): 707–743.https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/std/article/708377. Retrieved 2026-04-09. The region contains several 19th-century wooden mosques, including:
İremit (Maralköy) Mosque (1851) Camili Village Mosque (1855) Efeler Mosque (1958)
These represent examples of local wooden religious architecture. Another characteristic structure is the Serander (traditional raised storage barn), used for food storage and designed to protect products from moisture and pests while allowing ventilation.
Oral traditions and music Oral traditions remain an important part of cultural life in Camili. Folktales, poems, and epics are traditionally shared in community gatherings, particularly during winter months, and serve to transmit cultural values across generations. The region is associated with Georgian-influenced Polyphonic music, which is performed in daily life and social events.Teksöz, G.; Ertürk, E.; Lise, Y. (2011). Life in Camili Biosphere Reserve. Turkish National Commission for UNESCO. ISBN 978-605-62155-8-2. Retrieved 2026-04-09. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/403437362_Biosphere_Reserves_for_Education_for_Sustainable_Development_Life_in_Camili_Biosphere_ReserveŞahin, D.; Demirel Temel, S. (2022). An analysis of the polyphonic Georgian folk song 'Maqruli' performed by Machakheli Seniors' Ensemble.Rast Musicology Journal. 10 (1): 99–134. Retrieved 2026-04-09. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/rastmd/article/1059390). This tradition is transmitted orally and relies on intergenerational teaching. A local ensemble, the Macahel Polyphonic Choir, has contributed to the preservation of this musical heritage.Dursun, G. F. (2024). Maçahel'de Gürcü Halk Edebiyatı ve İmecelerde/Nadilerde Anlatılışı. Düzce University Journal of Social Sciences (in Turkish).https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/dusbed/article/1582154Elderly choir becomes a 'living treasure'. Daily Sabah. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
The population is bilingual, with both Turkish language and Georgian language spoken in daily life. The local dialect of Camili, includes vocabulary related to social cooperation and traditional musical practices.
Traditional ecological knowledge and livelihoods Traditional livelihoods in Camili are closely linked to ecological knowledge and sustainable use of natural resources. Beekeeping is a central activity, and the region is known for the conservation of the Caucasian honey bee (Apis mellifera caucasia), supported by local development initiatives.Organik Tarım ve Arıcılık. Macahel. Retrieved 2026-04-07. https://www.macahel.org.tr/organik-tarim
Wild foraging remains important, with local communities collecting berries, fruits, nuts, and medicinal plants from surrounding forests.Eminağaoğlu, Ö.; Kutbay, H. G.; Özkan, Z. C.; Ergül, A. (2008). Flora of the Camili Biosphere Reserve Area (Borçka, Artvin, Turkey). Journal of Botany. 32 (1): 43–90. https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/botany/vol32/iss1/6/ Common products include: Wild blueberries (locally known as likapa, forest fruits, nuts, such as chestnut and hazelnut, various medicinal herbs used for food and traditional medicine.
Handicrafts, particularly woodworking and weaving, are also important cultural practices.Macahel Rural Development Project and Traditional Livelihoods. TEMA Foundation https://www.tema.org.tr Wooden household items such as kitchen tools, storage containers, and furniture are traditionally made from local timber.Traditional Handicrafts in Artvin. Artvin Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism. https://artvin.ktb.gov.tr/TR-54877/el-sanatlari.html Weaving traditions include hand-knitted wool products such as socks and textiles, often decorated with geometric patterns and colored using natural dyes derived from plants.Artvin Cultural Inventory Report. DOKA (Eastern Black Sea Development Agency). https://www.doka.org.tr
Social structure and community life The social structure of the Camili Basin (Macahel) is shaped by its geographical isolation and long-standing traditions of communal survival. This has fostered a community life based on solidarity, cooperation, and collective labor.
Isolation and solidarity Historically, the region experienced seasonal isolation, with access routes often closed for several months due to heavy snowfall. This resulted in a high degree of self-sufficiency and strong community interdependence. During periods of isolation, villagers relied on collective assistance for essential needs, including transporting sick individuals by sled or carrying supplies on foot when roads were inaccessible. Households commonly shared food and basic resources throughout the winter period to ensure communal survival.
Collective work and solidarity The tradition of Imece (collective labor) is a central element of social organization in the basin, particularly for agricultural activities such as corn processing (locally known as kunçala). These collective work gatherings also function as social and cultural spaces where oral traditions, stories, and traditional songs are shared between generations. Communal infrastructure, such as water mills, is traditionally managed as shared property, with community members jointly responsible for maintenance and use, reinforcing cooperation and mutual trust.
Social roles and management In the traditional highland (yayla) system, women play a central role in both household management and agricultural production, including food preparation and seasonal provisioning. Respect for elderly community members remains an important social value. Elderly residents contribute to cultural continuity, particularly through the preservation of oral traditions and music. The Macahel Elders' Choir represents an example of this role, contributing to the transmission of local Polyphonic music traditions across generations.
History The Camili (Macahel) valley, located in the Artvin Province of Turkey, has a long and complex historical background shaped by its position in the Caucasus region and its role as a borderland between empires.
The historical name of the region, Macahel (also spelled Maçahel), is commonly associated with Georgian linguistic roots and is often interpreted as referring to a valley structure resembling an open hand, reflecting the surrounding mountainous landscape.
Historical references to the wider region date back to the 3rd century BCE during the reign of Pharnavaz I of Iberia, ruler of the early Kingdom of Iberia. The area later formed part of the medieval Georgian cultural and political sphere and reached a peak during the 12th century under Queen Tamar of Georgia. Local traditions also associate the region with her burial, although this is not confirmed by historical sources. From the 13th century onward, the region was affected by major invasions, including the Mongol invasions and later campaigns led by Timur. These events contributed to political fragmentation and demographic change in the wider region.