AI and Drone Era in Forest Firefighting

November 6, 2026 · A Haber

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı announced the development of drones capable of dropping water, following an artificial intelligence system that predicts fire risk a week in advance, and stated that the draft Hal Law will be submitted to Parliament.

Advanced Technology Step in Firefighting

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı announced at a meeting with press members in Istanbul that high technology is being deployed in the fight against forest fires. Thanks to the artificial intelligence-based Decision Support System, actively used in combating forest fires, the course of fires is analyzed in advance, and risky areas can be precisely identified a week ahead. Minister Yumaklı stated that teams are directed to the field in light of this data and that, within the scope of joint work with the defense industry, in addition to existing Bayraktar TB2 surveillance vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles capable of directly dropping water on fires will also be developed.

Scientific Afforestation Strategy Based on Ecosystem

Emphasizing that the protection of natural balance is essential in the rehabilitation and reforestation of burned forest areas, Minister Yumaklı stated that planting a single type of sapling in every region is not an ecologically sound approach. Yumaklı expressed that they are acting in line with the comprehensive workshop held at the end of 2023 with the participation of experts, recalling that in the red pine ecosystem, cones protect their seeds during fires. Noting that forests have a centuries-old natural cycle, the Minister stated that all renewal activities in the field are shaped in accordance with scientific data.

Local Awareness Efforts in Forest Villages

Stating that the support of the local population is critically important in protecting forest assets, Yumaklı announced that awareness efforts in villages and rural neighborhoods sensitive to fire continue uninterruptedly during the winter months. Yumaklı said that water tankers are distributed to villagers to enable immediate first response until professional fire crews arrive at the scene, adding that conscious civilian escort during a fire minimizes loss of life and property, and therefore villagers are continuously supported with equipment and drills.

Sanctions Against Arson and Illegal Structures

Stating that the rate of arson in forest fires is at 3% according to the official records of law enforcement, Minister Yumaklı noted that irresponsible actions, such as in the Kahramanmaraş example, cannot be considered accidents. Yumaklı reported that all financial costs incurred in extinguishing fires are recovered from the perpetrators and that the ministry's legal team follows the criminal proceedings, also touching upon the issue of protecting agricultural lands. The Minister stated that hobby gardens pose an urban planning problem and emphasized that legal regulations enacted to protect fertile agricultural lands will be applied without compromise.

New Wholesale Market Law Regulation to Protect Producers

Yumaklı announced that the preparations for the new Hal Law, which aims to ensure balance between producers and consumers in agricultural markets, have reached their final stage, and that the draft is being evaluated by the AK Party parliamentary group and will soon be submitted to the commission. With the reformist regulation to be implemented, producer unions and cooperatives will play a more effective role in wholesale markets. Furthermore, by allowing large retail outlets to procure products directly from producers, the aim is to reduce intermediaries, expand contract farming, and deliver food supply directly to consumers.

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