Authorities on alert as Turkey under threat of forest fires

In earlier remarks to Sunday’s Zaman, Ecmel Erlat from Ege University’s department of geography said Turkey should expect summer temperatures above seasonal norms, meaning this summer will be a dry one. “This year is an El Nino year. In other words, energy stored in the atmosphere is about to return. This summer will be extremely hot, as it was in 1998,” Erlat said.

While noting that global climate change, drought and meteorological conditions increase the risk of forest fires in Turkey, Turkish Foundation for Reforestation, Protection of Natural Habitats and Combating Soil Erosion (TEMA) official Ferhat Taze, who is in charge of forestation within the foundation, told Sunday’s Zaman that Turkey is one of the Mediterranean countries that faces the risk of devastating forest fires. Much of this land, about 12 million hectares, is located along its long coast.

Turkey’s forestry office is also aware of the situation. Stating that 90 percent of the forest fires in Turkey break out between May 1 and Oct. 30, Forestry General Directorate Forest Fire Fighting Division Director Hakan Ragıpoğlu said precautions against forest fires concentrate on extinguishing fires and re-planting decimated forests.

“In Turkey, forests are observed around the clock from 766 observation towers and booths. By the end of 2009, 80 camera systems were installed on 40 towers and 30 more such systems are planned to be installed this year. This system enables us to detect forest fires within 18 seconds of their start,” Ragıpoğlu told Sunday’s Zaman.

He also noted that fire trucks are present in buildings of directorate branches located in areas where the risk of fire is high. “When the weather conditions can trigger a forest fire, gendarmerie teams constantly observe the forests and the police warn people. Also, municipalities and mufti offices warn residents in their towns,” Ragıpoğlu added.

The director also said a new system has been in use since 2008 and that it manages logistics better than previous measures during forest fires. Named the Fire Management System, it enables the coordination of vehicles and staff combating forest fires. He also added that firefighting teams are equipped with the latest technology, including 15 Dromader and amphibious aircraft and 21 helicopters. “Aircraft and other vehicles are ready to intervene in a forest fire within 15 minutes,” he said.

Ragıpoğlu said the directorate is working on providing a permanent solution to the forest fire problem and added that they are even reaching out to children. The directorate targets primary and secondary school students through a magazine, “Sincap Çocuk Dergisi” (Squirrel Children’s Magazine) and a theater company, “Sincap” (Squirrel), to inform children about fire safety.

The directorate’s teams also visit villages to inform residents about the forest fire threat because many forest fires are started by careless farmers, who burn bushes and thereby cause larger fires.

Ragıpoğlu also noted that they have launched a project, YARDOP (The Rehabilitation of Burned Areas and the Establishment of Forest with Fire-Resistant Species Project). Lines of protection between agricultural fields and forests have been established as part of the project in zones with a high risk of fire.

Directorate aims to repeat last year’s minimal damage

Last year’s figures saw a sharp decrease in destroyed forestland compared to the previous year. Osman Kahveci, the head of the Forestry General Directorate, told the Anatolia news agency that 2,000 forest fires break out in Turkey annually and that 8,000 to 10,000 hectares of land are damaged each year.

While noting that Turkish forestry has undergone a fast transformation in recent years, making use of the latest technological innovations, Kahveci said an early warning system developed in Turkey is also effective in intervening in fires on time. “We aim to see minimal damage this year, as was the case last year,” he said.

According to Kahveci, 1,760 forest fires broke out in Turkey last year and 4,769 hectares of forestland were damaged as a result. There was a sharp decline in the number of forest fires last year thanks to more active and effective work by firefighting teams and the early warning system.

Kahveci said many fires have already broken out since the beginning of this year but that only a few have received publicity because most were extinguished very quickly.

Noting that the directorate spends $300,000 million every year to fight forest fires, Kahveci said it also earns about $1 billion every year through the processing of industrial wood. He said consumed forests are re-planted with money earned from this processing.

TEMA tips for protecting forests

 Do not light a fire in forests or places near forests. Go picnicking without a grill.

 Do not throw away flammable materials, including cigarette butts and matches.

 Cover oil or gas that spills from your car with a thick layer of soil.

 Extinguish small fires yourself. Call 177 (the forest fire notification line), 156 (gendarmerie) or 155 (police) if you see smoke or a fire coming from a forest.

 Help civil society organizations raise awareness about forest fires and ask for the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to invest more resources in forests.