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4 Aug 2024

Turkey's Forests Under Threat: A Single Day's Fire Alert Highlights Ongoing Challenges
Turkey's Forests Under Threat: A Single Day's Fire Alert Highlights Ongoing Challenges

In a concerning development, Turkey faced a fire incident in the region of Sivas on August 4, 2024, marking yet another challenge for the nation's forests. Over the past two decades, Turkey has experienced significant fluctuations in tree cover. While the country boasts an area of approximately 78 million hectares, its tree cover extends over 10 million hectares.

Analysis of historical data reveals a worrying trend of tree cover loss, with the highest recorded in 2021 at nearly 79,000 hectares. This loss represents a stark increase from the 22,910 hectares lost in 2001. Despite these losses, there has been a net positive change in tree cover, with a gain of approximately 473,800 hectares against a loss of 385,000 hectares, resulting in a net increase of 88,766 hectares. This equates to a modest change of 0.65% over the assessed period.

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The primary drivers of tree cover loss in Turkey have been identified as forestry activities and shifting agriculture, with the latter accounting for a significant portion of the losses. Urbanization also contributed to the decline, albeit to a lesser extent. The absence of data on wildfires as a driver in the historical records does not diminish the potential impact they may have on future forest health.

The incident in Sivas serves as a reminder of the persistent threats to Turkey's forests. While the net gain in tree cover is a positive sign, the ongoing loss due to various drivers, including the risk of fires, underscores the need for continued vigilance and sustainable forest management practices.

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