Simsher Forest is the only ancient forest in Turkey, dedicated to the protection of boxwoods in the Cat Valley of Rize, and is among the 200 important natural ecological zones in the world. The forest includes hundreds of boxwood trees, an ornamental plant whose leaves are always green. Boxwood is also known as the strongest tree in the world, and is used to make spoons and combs. It is mostly a densely branched shrub, sometimes up to 10 m in height.