RATIONALE FOR “REFORESTTURKEY” AND MISSION STATEMENT
BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM STATEMENT
In recent years, Turkey’s coastal regions have experienced a marked increase in the frequency and severity of wildfires, a trend closely associated with the intensification of hot and dry summer conditions. According to the Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı, a total of 77 wildfires were reported on a single day—June 29—with nine classified as large-scale blazes. This alarming statistic underscores the growing vulnerability of Turkey’s forests to wildfire events.
The International Association of Wildland Fire reports that approximately 28% of Turkey’s land area is forested, and forest fires are a recurrent phenomenon. Over the past eight years, Turkey has averaged nearly 2,500 forest fires annually, resulting in the burning of approximately 17,000 acres (~7,000 hectares) each year. On average, each fire affects about 7 acres (2.8 hectares). While 11% of these fires are attributed to lightning strikes, the remaining 89% are human-induced, with the specific cause remaining unidentified in 60% of cases. The economic burden of fire suppression is substantial, with costs reaching $131 million (USD) in 2018 alone. The Mediterranean climate zones in the south and west of the country are identified as the areas of greatest risk.
Recent satellite data, accessible via https://afetharitasi.org/ (accessed July 24, 2025), corroborate the persistence of active fires, particularly in the Eskisehir and Bursa provinces (source:
Accordingly, ongoing fires can be seen particularly in the Eskisehir-Bursa provinces.