In a recent assessment of Turkey's environmental landscape, significant changes in tree cover and fire incidents have been observed. Over the past two decades, Turkey has experienced a net change in tree cover with a 0.65% increase, despite a loss of 385,30.08 hectares and a gain of 473,796.66 hectares. The most considerable tree cover loss occurred in 2021, with 79,284.23 hectares affected. The primary drivers of tree cover loss include forestry, accounting for the vast majority, followed by shifting agriculture and urbanization. Notably, the data does not specify the impact of wildfires, which remain a critical concern for forested areas.
The latest incident report from Şanlıurfa, Turkey, on September 15, 2024, indicates a fire alert, highlighting the ongoing challenges Turkey faces in managing its natural resources and preserving its forests. The country's tree cover extent spans over 10 million hectares, which is about 12.90% of its total land area, making the management of tree cover loss and fire incidents crucial for its environmental sustainability.
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