Eldivan SHMYO, Environmental Health Program Lecturer Social Environmental Sciences Specialist Ecologist Dr. The report titled "Ecological and Socio-Economic Effects of Great Forest Fires in the Mediterranean Region", prepared in cooperation with NATURA Nature and Culture Association and WWF-Turkey (World Wildlife Fund), of which Okan ÜRKER is one of the main editors, is on 21 March World Forestry Day. shared with the public.
The report includes a comprehensive analysis of the mega fires of last summer from sociological, economic and ecological perspectives. In addition, practical management recommendations regarding fire-compatible living for new forest fires, which are likely to occur in the near future, are also presented in detail in the report.
The report can be accessed via this link:
https://wwftr.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/ormanyangnlarweb.pdf?11960/Akdeniz-Bolgesinde-Buyuk-Orman-Yarginlarinin-Ecological-and-Socio-Economic-Effects
In the report announced at the online meeting held within the scope of 21 March World Forestry Day, it was stated that approaches to fires that increase due to changing climatic and social conditions should be reviewed and developed in the light of current realities, preventive measures should be taken and preparedness should be taken.
WWF- Turkey General Manager Aslı Pasinli also mentioned the information in the report at the meeting and said that the biggest fire in history was fought with mucilage last year, and the area that burned in 20 years under normal conditions was lost in 10 days.
Pasinli stated that they were struggling with simultaneous drought and some problems after these, and emphasized that global warming from 1.2 degrees Celsius is expected to reach 2.5 degrees, and that it is important to be better equipped and prepared for this.
WWF- Turkey Nature Conservation Director Dr. Sedat Kalem, on the other hand, stated that the fires that result in the burning of a certain area every year in Turkey, a Mediterranean country, are reasonable and manageable.
Kalem said that according to statistics, 7-8 thousand hectares of forest loss has been experienced in 2-3 thousand forest fires, large and small, in the last 20 years in Turkey. Pointing out that forest fires were seen not only in the Mediterranean Region but also in 54 provinces last year, Kalem continued as follows:
"About 150 thousand hectares burned. This is equal to the total area burned in about 20 years, and most of them took place in Antalya and Muğla. The number of mega fires was 16. Of course, such situations may occur in some exceptional years, due to climatic or various reasons, but The important thing is that it does not turn into a habit. That is, the same thing does not happen next year or sooner. These fires not only take away forests, but also lives. Last year, we lost 13 lives. Rural settlements were evacuated. Animals, farms, greenhouses burned. "
Noting that they welcomed the closure of some hunting grounds to land hunting after the fires in 2021, Kalem said, "After the fire wave that hit our forests, practices such as wood production and land allocation, which have increased rapidly in recent years in our country, should be reviewed. In the light of current climatic and social realities, forest Instead of wood production, the goal of protection, which considers the ecosystem services provided by forests, should be prioritized in the management of he said.