Hayrettin Karaca commemorated with longing on the third anniversary of his death

Hayrettin Karaca, one of the Founding Honorary Presidents of TEMA Foundation, who dedicated his life to the protection of natural assets, was commemorated on the third anniversary of his death in a ceremony held at his grave in İstanbul and at the Karaca Arboretum, which he founded with his long-lasting efforts, in Yalova. On the anniversary of Karaca's death, the park, named after him was opened by Kadıköy Municipality in Yalova.

Our Grandpa Earth Hayrettin Karaca, one of the Founding Honorary Presidents of TEMA Foundation, a sage of nature who devoted his life to the love of soil and to pass this love on to all generations, was commemorated with great longing on the 3rd anniversary of his death.

A commemoration ceremony held at his grave and Karaca Arboretum

TEMA Foundation executives and volunteers as well as staff from the headquarters attended the ceremony held for Hayrettin Karaca at his grave in İstanbul Edirnekapı Cemetery. A wreath with the inscription "Our Grandpa Earth, we will always remember you, we follow in your footsteps" was laid on Karaca's grave, and then prayers were said.

A commemoration ceremony was also held for the Grandpa Earth in Karaca Arboretum, which he founded in Yalova in 1980. Yalova Governor Muammer Erol, Yalova Deputy Mayor Mustafa Tutuk, Yalova Provincial Council President Hasan Soygüzel, Kadıköy Mayor Mehmet Şahin, Çiftlikköy Mayor Ali Murat Silpagar, Çınarcık Mayor Numan Soyer, Subaşı Mayor Turan Canbay and Kaytazdere Mayor Ali Kangal attended the ceremony. Member of the Board of Trustees of the TEMA Foundation and Hayrettin Karaca's granddaughter Yeşne İren, Chairperson of the Board of Directors Deniz Ataç, General Manager Başak Yalvaç Özçağdaş and the Headquarters team, as well as TEMA Foundation Yalova Provincial Representative Arzu Demir and her representative team, Kocaeli Provincial Representative Nermin Tol, Bursa Provincial Representative Şaban Uyar and many nature lovers who love and value Hayrettin Karaca attended the ceremony.

“These lands will always remember him”

Speaking at the ceremony, TEMA Foundation Chairperson of Board  of Directors Ms. Deniz Ataç said, “Every day we feel the loss of one of our Founding Honorary Presidents, Mr. Hayrettin Karaca, who passed away on January 20, 2020. Our deceased Grandpa Earth, Hayrettin Karaca, and Grandpa Leaf Ali Nihat Gökyiğit set out with the dream of reaching 1 million volunteers when they were establishing our Foundation years ago. Happily, we entered our 30th anniversary with this dream came true. Today, we consider TEMA Foundation, which has turned into a popular movement with more than 1 million volunteers, as its greatest legacy. It is very valuable for us to share this valuable heritage with more than 1 million volunteers by protecting nature, which is our home. We would like to express our gratitude to Mr. Hayrettin Karaca for this valuable path he opened for us. These lands will remember him forever.”

In addition, after the commemoration at the Karaca Arboretum, the park, named after Hayrettin Karaca, was opened in the Merkez Mahallesi Güzelyurt 7th Street, upon the decision of the Kadıköy Municipality Council.

Old Growth Forests Project dedicated to Grandpa Earth continues

TEMA Foundation initiated the "Hayrettin Karaca Old Growth Forests Project" in 2021 to protect the old growth forests, which are of great value in Türkiye and which Grandpa Earth Hayrettin Karaca also attaches importance to.

In this context, forest areas with an average diameter of 36 cm and an area larger than 50 hectares were mapped by using forest maps of the Eastern Blacksea Region in 2021. As a result of the work carried out by the TEMA Foundation, 19 forest areas in Artvin, with an area of 2,795 hectares, or 3,936 football fields, were registered as "old growth forest", with the contributions of the General Directorate of Forestry, Department of Forestry Administration and Planning.

In the provinces of Ordu and Giresun, where field studies were carried out in 2022, an application was made to the General Directorate of Forestry for the registration of 27 fields with a total area of 3,754 hectares, or approximately 5,000 football fields, as “old growth forest."

Hayrettin Karaca Volunteerism Awards are in its 3rd year

Since the death of Hayrettin Karaca, the TEMA Foundation has been giving the Hayrettin Karaca Volunteerism Award to TEMA Foundation Provincial Representatives, District, Neighbourhood Officers and Young TEMAs in the categories of Recruitment of Volunteers, Efficiency, Hope Givers and Education every year, since Hayrettin Karaca's death. Since 2020, a total of 52 people have been awarded the Hayrettin Karaca Volunteerism Award in 4 different categories.

We are raising hope!                                                                      TEMA Foundation