Turkey Increases Forest Assets to 23.4 Million Hectares

October 1, 2026 · Tarım TV

Speaking at the FAO COFO 28 Summit, Director General of Forestry Bekir Karacabey stated that Turkey is the fourth country globally to most increase its forest areas and the first in Europe for afforestation, proposing Antalya to become a regional fire coordination center.

The 28th Session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO 28), held at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters, witnessed crucial consultations shaping the future of forests. Bekir Karacabey, Director General of Forestry, who attended the critical summit in Rome, the capital of Italy, evaluated the global fight against forest fires, the sustainability of forest ecosystems, and their direct impact on public health and food supply security. Karacabey conveyed messages of multilateral cooperation by sharing Turkey's extensive experience on the international platform.

Director General of Forestry Bekir Karacabey stated that Turkey has steadily expanded its forest assets thanks to its determined environmental policies. Karacabey reported that forest areas have been increased to 30% of the country's land area, reaching a total of 23.4 million hectares of forest assets. Pointing to FAO reports, Karacabey emphasized that Turkey ranks fourth globally among countries that have most significantly increased their forest areas, highlighting the success in international forestry indicators.

Bekir Karacabey expressed that the national mobilization projects implemented by Turkey from the past to the present are reflected in international data, stating that the afforestation and erosion control campaigns initiated during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's premiership were a critical turning point. As a result of these continuous field efforts, Turkey ranks first in Europe and third globally among countries with the most afforestation activities. These efforts serve as a fundamental barrier in preventing soil loss.

Touching upon the quality of the country's forest assets, Director General of Forestry Bekir Karacabey announced that more than 90% of Turkey's forests are in a natural forest structure. Karacabey stated that this rich natural diversity offers immense direct and indirect contributions to human health and food production, adding that forest ecosystems directly serve 30% of the world's population in terms of access to and direct supply of food, and are a vital source of nutrition.

Reminding that forests are an indispensable natural shield for agricultural sustainability, Director General of Forestry Bekir Karacabey made the following statements on the subject:

Karacabey also stated that Turkey is fully prepared to share its institutional forestry experience, accumulated since 1839, with FAO members.

Director General of Forestry Bekir Karacabey announced that they have presented a concrete project against fire risks associated with the global climate crisis, stating:

The proposal aims to establish a joint early intervention and dispatch mechanism in the Mediterranean basin.

Emphasizing that the fires experienced in the Mediterranean belt in recent times have reached dimensions that cannot be managed with the resources of a single country, Director General of Forestry Bekir Karacabey conveyed the importance of cooperation as follows:

Türkçe