FOREST FIRES FOREST FIRES Forest fires occur mostly during the rainless periods. Forest fires also cause in almost every year significant degradation and lose of the large forest areas over Turkey. In Turkey, forest fires are the main reason of deforestation.

Turkey is a Mediterranean country, and the summers are hot and dry. Although the climate is an important factor, mankind resasons are really serious.

The majority of forest fires in Turkey are caused by people. People-caused fires account for 97% of all fires, while lightning is responsible for the remaining 3%. Of the people-caused fires 14% was classified as arson, 35% as negligence and carelessness, and 48% as unknown

Reasons of forest fires

Fire management in Turkey is a federal responsibility. Duties are carried out by state forest enterprises functioning under regional directorates. Fire control policies have developed around a strong emphasis on total fire control as a response to destructive fires.

Fire management relies on early detection, fast initial attack and powerful suppression. Each region has been provided with sufficient resources and man-power to combat forest fires. Available resources include 135 fire trucks, 12 helicopters, 11 airplanes, 882 fire look-out towers, 8472 radios, 650 initial attack crews (of men), and 120 standby forces (of men). New resources are being added as needed and new technologies adopted.

General Directorate of Forestry is conducting forest fire fighiting activities in Turkey. These types of tasks are being carried out by a Department of Forest Protection and Fire Fighting at Central Organization level and by the Division. A powerful organizationsystem has been established in order to facilitate efficient forest fire fighting. Observation and communication are the most important core elements of fighting

Since Forest fires are serious problem for Turkey reforestation after the fires, rehabilitation of forests, erosion control activities and rangeland rehabilitation works have become more important.

Change in forest cover Ministry of Environment and Forestry prepared “Afforestation and Erosion Control Campaign Action Plan” covering years

A great progress has been achieved in Turkey in the fields of forest rehabilitation, afforestation and erosion control activities.

According to FAO reports, Turkey is listed among the first ten countries that have realized afforestation works most extensively all over the world.