A recent fire incident in İzmir, Turkey, has raised concerns over the country's forest health. Despite this, Turkey has shown a net positive change in tree cover over the years. Turkey's total area spans over 78 million hectares, with approximately 12.90% covered by trees. Analysis of historical data indicates a fluctuating pattern of tree cover loss, primarily driven by forestry activities and shifting agriculture, with a notable absence of wildfire data.
From 2001 to 2022, Turkey experienced a total tree cover loss of approximately 0.69% of its tree cover extent. However, the country also witnessed a tree cover gain of about 0.61% during the same period, resulting in a net positive change. The most significant loss occurred in 2021, with a 0.78% decrease in tree cover, while 2022 saw a reduction of approximately 0.53%. Urbanization has played a minor role, contributing to less than 0.01% of the total tree cover loss annually.
Explore country profileThe net change in tree cover, which considers both loss and gain, shows a positive trend of 0.65% increase, indicating a resilient recovery and growth of Turkey's forests. This data suggests that despite incidents such as the recent fire in İzmir, Turkey's overall tree cover is experiencing a gradual and positive transformation.
