Turkey has proposed that the FAO establish a forest fire response center in Antalya

The experience of forest fires in recent years has shown that it is becoming increasingly difficult for countries to cope with large-scale fires using their own forces and resources alone, - Bekir Karacabey

ROME

Turkey has proposed that the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) use the International Forestry Training Center in Antalya as a coordination center for combating large forest fires in Mediterranean countries and the region.

Bekir Karacabey, director general of Turkey’s General Directorate of Forestry, said this in an interview with an Anadolu correspondent, commenting on his contacts in Rome, where he is taking part in the 28th session of the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO 28).

Karacabey noted that the session is discussing forest-fire control, sustainable forest management, as well as the impact of forests on public health and food security.

According to him, forests currently cover 30% of Turkey’s territory, with a total area of 23.4 million hectares. According to FAO data, Turkey ranks fourth in the world among the countries that have increased their forest area the most, the director general said.

In addition, Karacabey said that, thanks to reforestation and erosion-control campaigns initiated by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan back when he was prime minister, Turkey ranks first in Europe and third in the world in terms of the scale of afforestation.

The director general noted that more than 90% of Turkey’s forests are of natural origin, giving the country’s forest ecosystems significant potential in terms of their direct and indirect contribution to public health and food security.

Karacabey also drew attention to the important role of forests in ensuring access to food and food security, noting that around 30% of the world’s population depends on forest resources, including as a source of food.

“There is a saying: ‘Forests are agriculture’s insurance.’ Forests are extremely important for protecting soil and forming water resources used in agriculture. We particularly emphasized this point at the COFO meetings,” he said.

The head of the directorate noted that Turkey is ready to share with FAO members its forestry experience accumulated since 1839, and is also interested in studying the experience of other countries.

Proposal to create a coordination center in Antalya

Karacabey said that during the meeting, the Turkish side put forward a proposal to FAO member countries regarding a center for combating large forest fires.

“Our International Forestry Training Center operates in Antalya. We informed FAO that this center could also be used as a coordination center for combating large forest fires that may occur in countries within the Mediterranean climate zone and in our region,” he said.

Karacabey emphasized that the experience of forest fires in recent years has shown that it is becoming increasingly difficult for countries to cope with large-scale fires using their own forces and resources alone.

“We proposed turning the center in Antalya into a platform for joint training, assessing common risks, and discussing opportunities for joint work. Together with FAO, we have already begun work in this direction,” he noted.

Karacabey also expressed confidence that, in the future, the International Forestry Training Center in Antalya would be able to perform an important function not only for Turkey’s forestry sector, but above all for the countries of the region, and subsequently for global forestry as a whole.