Don't let a fire spark burn our future, long live our forests!

Reminding that the riskiest period in terms of forest fires in Türkiye is between July and September, the TEMA Foundation draws attention to the danger of a small spark turning into huge forest fires, also with the impact of the climate crisis. Underlining that 88% of forest fires are caused by humans, the Foundation calls on all citizens to pay attention to the risk of forest fires, which increases with the warming of the weather.

The Forest Fires Awareness Project, which was launched last year by the TEMA Foundation based on the fact that most of the forest fires in Türkiye are caused by humans, continues in its second year. Leaving behind a successful year, the project aims to raise awareness this year in order to prevent fires caused by people's negligence and carelessness in the summer months when forest fires are more common.

3 movies have been produced around the themes of "Glass Bottle", "Barbecue Fire" and "Stubble" in the new period of the project. At the end of the movies, which start with fire-themed songs, the message "Let the fires stay in the songs this summer, don't leave glass bottles in nature/don't light fire in and near the forest/do not burn stubble, long live our forests" is conveyed, and the viewers are directed to the website “DahaYanmadan.com” (before it is burnt). On the website, measures to be taken before the fire are reminded.

“There was huge interest in the project, awareness has been raised.”

Pointing out that the Forest Fires Awareness Project attracted great attention in its first year, Ms. Deniz Ataç, Chairperson of the Board Directors of TEMA Foundation, said, “We carried out widespread communication activities on television, radio and digital platforms in the project, which we started with the call of #DahaYanmadan (before it is burnt) last year. We reached approximately 24 million people with the TV campaign we carried out with the awareness movies produced within the scope of the project, and we had wide coverage in the media.

We reminded the responsibilities of individuals, institutions and authorities for the prevention of forest fires with information texts, images and awareness films shared on the DahaYanmadan.com website, which was also created within the scope of the project. We are happy to reach a large number of people with all these efforts. We believe that we have created a great awareness in the public based on the many positive responses we have received regarding our campaign. In the light of all these good results, we continue our project in its second year in order to reach out more people.”

88% of the forest fires are caused by humans

Ms. Deniz Ataç pointed out that they focused on reducing human-caused fires in the Forest Fires Awareness Project, since most of the forest fires are preventable, and said, “In Türkiye, 12% of the forest fires in the last 25 years are natural, and 88% are intentional, accidental and due to negligence. The cause defined as “unknown” shows that the human influence in the fires is great. Forest fire statistics demonstrate that forest fires are increasing linearly every year. While an average of approximately 2,000 forest fires broke out in the period 2000-2010, this number has increased by 28% since 2010 and exceeded 2,600. This increase is undoubtedly due to the increase in forest-human interaction during the fire season. 60% of our forest assets are located in areas with the highest fire risk. This shows that we need to be very careful against fires in order to protect forests vital for our country. However, unfortunately, it is obvious that we have not been able to pay enough attention to it."

Long live our forests

Emphasising that the climate crisis has increased the speed and severity of forest fires, Ms.  Ataç said, “Now a fire spark can turn into huge forest fires. For this reason, much more attention should be paid to the protection of our forests, let alone lighting a fire in the forest during periods of high risk of fire, not even a spark should be ignited. It should not be forgotten that forests are an ecosystem, not just a collection of trees. Forest fire not only burns the plants in the forest, but also destroys many living things in it. Our forests, which are carbon sinks, are turning into carbon emissions due to fires. It will take decades for them to reach their current carbon storage capacity.”

In order not to cause forest fires, do not throw cigarette butts and glass bottles, do not burn stubble and extinguish the barbecue fire!

“It should be kept in mind that a cigarette butt thrown into the forest or near the forest will start to burn the grass and plants around it, a barbecue fire that is not well extinguished can ignite again with the effect of the wind, a glass bottle thrown into the forest or a waste with similar characteristics can create a fire with the lens effect of the sun's rays. In the same way, it should be taken into consideration that burning stubble can turn into a forest fire when it is carried out in areas close to the forest border" said Ataç. She reminded the citizens of their responsibilities to prevent forest fires by indicating, "For this reason, fire should not be made in forest areas and areas close to the forest borders, picnics should not be held outside the permitted picnic areas in the forests. It should be ensured that garbage, plastic, glass bottles and pieces of glass should not be thrown into the forest, smoking should not be allowed in forested areas, and cigarette butts should not be thrown to the forest edge highways and areas close to the forest, and burning stubble should be avoided. In cases where there is a risk of fire, the Emergency Line 112 or the Forest Fire Warning Hotline 177 should be called immediately.”

Ataç said, “As the TEMA Foundation, we remind you that small negligence brings disaster, and we call on all our people to pay attention to the risk of forest fires that increase with the warming of the weather.”

We are raising hope!                                                                          TEMA Foundation