Turkey is on fire: #HelpTurkey! We are in need of fire planes.

Turkey is on fire: #HelpTurkey! We are in need of fire planes.

Started
3 August 2021
Signatures: 171,193Next Goal: 200,000
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Why this petition matters

Started by Hisar Uyar

Turkish   German

In last 5 days, more than 120 wildfires started in 32 cities in southern Turkey. 119 of the fires are under control but wildfires continue in 3 cities and 7 spots. The high number of fires which increase each year is an indicator that the forest fires become a forest destruction. 

We need urgent action plans! Along with the burning forests, animals die; fauna and flora suffers damage as well as residential areas. 

The number of wildfires and the amount of burning forest areas per fire are increasing rapidly in Turkey. 

  • According to General Directorate of Forestry and Agriculture’s data, the burned forest amount in last 11 years is 98.950 ha, which is equivalent to 181 Istanbul surface areas.
  • In 2020, in 3.399 fires, 20.971 ha forest areas burned , this is equivalent to 29.350 football stadiums. 
  • The amount of unknown fires increased to 51% from 46% in the last 5 years. 

We demand effective, applicable, stable and transparent fire action plans for the conservation of  forests.

The action plan to prevent and control fires should primarily include the following items:

  • Fire observation towers and fire protection centers should be expanded in a way to speed up the ground response 
  • Buying or leasing planes and helicopters should be based on a more effective basis for rapid air response before the fires escalate.
  • Establishing a team of experts in forestry 
    Identification of all forest areas
  • Drawing forest borders in accordance with forestry principles
    Implementation of the constitutional guarantee that the burned area will be reforested after the fire
  • Increasing the necessary measures to prevent forest fires,
    Investigation of data on forest fires and disclosure to the public with transparency
  • Increasing the number of equipment and employees required for firefighting
  • Applying criminal sanction and penalties to those who caused fire and implementation of applications without any exceptions
  • Informing the public about the existing firefighting aircraft, equipment and personnel by the General Directorate of Forestry.
    Increasing the number of firefighting aircraft and trained personnel for firefighting

Findings show that 87% of forest fires are caused by humans. The allocation of forests to various projects such as construction and energy investments are among the first reasons in the destruction of forest areas, as well as forest fires.

When we look at these regions after a forest fire, with great sadness, we see many construction projects. This often leads to the perception that fires are set on purpose.

We must all take a step forward for our future, and we must do it now!

Support our campaign, which we created to secure each tree, with your signature and share it on Twitter with #HelpTurkey hashtag.

Sign now and help the voice of people and nature get heard! 

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Signatures: 171,193Next Goal: 200,000
Support now
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