‘AKP plundered forests’

Until 2002, 250 thousand hectares of forest areas were allowed for businesses such as mining and tourism. Since 2002, when AKP came to power, the number of these permits is 540 thousand hectares. In addition, 640 thousand hectares of land were deforested through 2B, by saying “Forest has lost its character”.

NO RENEWAL ALLOWED

Ahmet Hüsrev Özkara, President of the Turkish Foresters Association, evaluated the increasing raw material production for the Republic, and said that methods to ensure the continuity of forest existence should be followed. Ozkara said:

“For the forest, economic, social or ecological usage distinctions are made with the management plan. After this planning, we find it appropriate to cut trees suitable for continuity, especially considering the production for economic purposes. No renewal is allowed in the policies adopted today. Overproduction causes destruction and degradation in the forest.”

MONEY MAKING LOGIC

Özkara said, “Those who do not know the forest ecosystem decide what to do or not to do. The area without trees may have been living in the forest ecosystem for years,” he said. Expressing that forests are viewed through rent, Özkara said: “It is necessary to determine priorities and draw a road map in production. However, it is viewed only with the logic of making money. For this, the existing treasury lands can be used for short-term wood raw materials of 10-20 years.”

Reminding the Paris Climate Agreement signed in 2021, Özkara said, “We stated that we will protect and expand the forests with the agreement. On the other hand, the demands in production increased and the way of destruction was opened.” said.