The 2000 seedlings procured by the District Governorship has been planted by the members of various university clubs coming from Ataturk University, Erzurum by the support of TDEAP and local residents. In the opening ceremony the Mayor of Uzundere, M. Halis Özsoy stated that Uzundere is progressing to become a brand of tourism. The district governor of Uzundere, Bedrettin Özmen in his speech has stressed that Uzundere for sure is to become a major touristic destination in the future.

Source: Sıla Newspaper, April 2, 2008.