With the growth of urban settlements and big Cities turn into concrete jungles, Turkey has long adhered policy of volume increase of Forests. Afforestation efforts gained new Pushing force in Last few years with State dedicate a special planting day new seedlings, filling public in This green quest. the last year alone size of The forest area reached 23.1 million hectares (57 million acres), with An additional 177 thousand hectares were planted. However, wildfires exacerbated by the ongoing climate crisis pose a serious threat to the efforts. Non-governmental organizations made a series of Recommendations to government on Occasion of Forest Week is celebrated this week for Better rehabilitation of Burned areas and afforestation strategies.
Directorate General of Forestry, subsidiary of Ministry of Agriculture and forestry are at the fore in afforestation efforts. In 2021, the directorate pledged maintenance of Areas covering about 853,000 hectares, rehabilitating forests and replacing decaying trees with new seedlings; they work adds to consistency in The government’s policy of Improving forests and increasing their size. data shows Turkey has 20.1 million hectares of Forests in 1973, A area which exceeded 22.6 million hectares in 2018. Now, government plans To increase it to at least 23.5 million hectares within next Two years.
Forests everywhere, from the barren lands of Southeast to rainy terrain of Black Sea regionWhile more More than 94% of the orchards and the rest are from the handcuffs. according to official data, size of Trees planted between 1973 and 2020 increased by 786 million cubic meters (28 billion cubic feet). red pine black Pine, yellow Makes pine, fir, fir and cedar up 60% of Woods while the rest are oak, beech, alder, chestnut and trumpet beams.
The last year he spent the country more From 14.2 million dollars (211 million Turkish liras) on The maintenance of Forests, from pruning to conservation. Another 216 million TL was spent on Forest restoration.
World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) Turkey and The Natura Association for conversation of Nature and culture says Turkey should Reviewing its approach to wildfires simultaneously of climate change and social conditions and take preventive measures to preserve its forests. On Monday, the two organizations released a joint report on The issue concentration on The great fires that destroyed the forests in Mediterranean country region.
WWF Turkey director Asli Basinli said: in a online event To report that Turkey fought the largest forest fires in it’s a history last year They lost the same number of Forests in 10 days like I did over two decades.
Dr.. Sedat Kalim, the World Conservation Fund for Nature in Turkey director says Forest fires ‘can be controlled’ in Turkey is a Mediterranean country. The region He is more Fire-prone compared to other areas of Turkey especially because of the high temperatures in the summer. Kalem says Turkey lost up to 8000 hectares of Forests in The past two decades in Nearly 3,000 fires of different sizes.
“the last yearabout 150,000 hectares of Forests burned. The fires were in 54 counties, no just in Mediterranean region. But the majority of The fires were in Antalya and Mugla (in Mediterranean region). We had 16 “huge fires”. This can be an exception because it is a file great Exception number caused Depending on climatic conditions or other factors. What matters now is to prevent him from repeating everything year,” He said.
Kalm urged the authorities to do so review Several practices like Growing timber production, in particular in The aftermath of “Wave of Forest fires” in 2021.” light of current climate and social Facts, we have to prioritize memorizing, focused on ecosystem, rather than timber production.”
Natura director Dr.. Okan Orker highlights The need to plan renovation of burnt forests. “Plants that grew quickly on their own in scorched areas give us Clues about the potential of natural regeneration of ecosystem. We should draw inspiration from this potential. While that of Intensive forest ‘engineering’, we have to choose for natural recovery methods says.
Professor Çağatay Tavşanoglu, a biologist from Hacettepe University, said at the same time event This fires caused has evolved in Mediterranean forests, which have the potential for regeneration but urged caution in Recovery of Forests.
“We see heavy equipment used in Soil rearrangement for afforestation. This could damage the soil, affect biodiversity, and could be harmful for Plants bloom. Forestry with One type of can tree also make them more breakable against External factors. If taking natural renewal place in Burned areas, interference should He is reduced if it was need Growing up, additional seeds can be sown. diversification of home in restored Forests help become an ecosystem more flexible in The face of Climate change “.
