Minister Yumaklı announces new decision following forest fires! 'Within this year...'

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklımade statements during a live broadcast.

Speaking on CNN Türk, Yumaklı stated that 96 percent of forest fires across the country are human-caused.

On the other hand, Yumaklı announced that a hunting ban will be introduced for this year. Yumaklı stated, "It is impossible to accept an environment that would lead to the hunting of animals in other areas while they are fleeing for their lives from there."

Highlights from Minister Yumaklı's statements are as follows:

"We are now experiencing the effects of climate change in an irreversible way. The whole world shares this forecast. When we compare the last 2-3 years with this year, there is an increase. Fires in 8 regions have been brought under control. In 2025, 5,121 fires broke out. Turkey extinguished these fires with its own resources."

There is an increase in fires that start outside the forest and spread to the forest. 60 percent of the fires that occur start in areas outside the forest and are extinguished there. Nearly 30 percent are fires that start outside the forest and spread to the forest, and 10 percent are fires that start in the forest."

"96 PERCENT OF FIRES ARE HUMAN-CAUSED"

"If the air temperature is above 30 degrees, humidity is below 30 percent, and the wind is over 30 km/h, the conditions for a forest fire are set. A tiny spark causes very serious destruction. 96 percent of these are directly or indirectly caused by human factors. A picnic fire you didn't pay attention to, a cigarette butt, or burning trash while cleaning a garden. A fire in İzmir started from a mattress thrown into the trash being ignited."

"In one fire in İzmir, a fire that started in a minibus spread to the forest. I want to underline this: the factors that create the conditions for a fire do not start the fire themselves. Negligence is what starts the fire. You do something you shouldn't do, and you start a fire. We are not the only ones living in this world. A single spark is enough to destroy the entire ecosystem there, the wildlife, the insects, and the flowers. Do not light fires in open areas. There is a very high risk."

"HUNTING BAN TO BE IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR"

"Due to forest fires, we are introducing a ban on hunting for this year. I am announcing this here for the first time. It is impossible to accept an environment that would lead to the hunting of all the animals there that have fled in a state of panic to other places."

"We possess the largest air and land fleet in the history of our republic in terms of fighting forest fires. We also hold a good position among the countries of the world. I mentioned the fires that were brought under control. We are talking about a fire that started in California on August 1st. If it doesn't happen that way for us, if we extinguish them in a short time, then how are we extinguishing them if we don't have the tools and equipment? We have 27 aircraft, 105 helicopters, and 14 UAVs."

"We have our Otağ aircraft. I cannot understand what benefit it provides to anyone to claim that what exists does not exist. An absurd claim was made regarding our Otağ aircraft, stating that it was purchased but never used. Otağ has served for 348 hours in 225 fires. It is very important to us."

"In forest fires, coordination is ensured under the chairmanship of our governors, from security to logistics. We do not want any uncoordinated elements to create chaos there. AFAD already establishes communication if there is a need. Those who want to help should contact AFAD. How everyone should behave, right down to evacuation decisions, is already clear."