If you follow Europe's lead and lose your goats, preventing forest fires becomes impossible

According to a report by POLITICO Europe: “In the fight against forest fires, which are becoming more frequent and destructive in Europe due to the impact of climate change, the issue of re-grazing goat and sheep herds in forested areas has come to the agenda. Revitalizing traditional shepherding activities in many parts of Europe is seen as an effective method for naturally clearing dry grass and brushwood, which cause fires to grow and spread rapidly.”

In short, Europe has realized that removing and reducing goats from forests in the past was a mistake.

Let's come to Turkey. As every year, we are facing forest fires in our country, especially in our coastal regions.

Forest fires arise due to a large number of factors.

Some attribute this to climate change. Of course, that plays a part.

However, the most important reason is the exclusion of goats—and consequently, the shepherd—from the forest as a result of the forest policy that has been implemented.

Why did Turkey move away from goats?

The most important justification for moving away from goats and reducing their numbers is the issue of protecting forests from hair goats, which make up the vast majority of our goat population.

Starting from primary education, people were conditioned to view the goat as an enemy of the forest. At the same time, the direct role of hair goats in starting fires in forest areas was not objectively determined, while the actual factors—such as the destruction of forests for tourist areas, the cutting of scrubland and even mature trees to build golf courses, land clearing, and the role of summer fires—were ignored.

Furthermore, the brains of those living in our cities were washed with the idea that goat meat and milk, as well as sheep products, cause vascular health problems and have a peculiar odor.

As a result of all this, our goat population, especially hair goats, has gradually decreased, and the Angora goat has almost disappeared. It has been observed that this folly has been somewhat recognized for a few years now.

Why is the goat important for the forest?

• The hair goat has been a natural part of the temperate climate zone and the ecosystem.

• Hair goats leave fertilizer in the forest.

They create firebreaks by opening corridors in dense scrubland and act as floor cleaners against fires by grazing in mature forested areas.

They are the most resilient animals that can survive in the adverse climate conditions expected in the future.

• They are the most important source of income for villagers living in and around forests and for nomads.

• They are an important element of Anatolian culture.

• Their products are both natural and healthy. Moreover, goat products will be at the forefront of animal products that have a chance to be marketed to European Union countries.

And what do the nomadic Yörüks, the best protectors of the forest, say?

Pervin Çoban Savran, one of the last nomadic Yörüks of Anatolia and President of the Sarıkeçililer Survival and Solidarity Association, said the following regarding the protection of forests and the prevention of fires: "The claim that goats harm the forest is not true. You cannot find a single piece of trash in the living space of the Yörüks. The goat, one of the animals best adapted to the Anatolian geography, does not harm nature. Goat shepherds are the volunteer guardians of the forest. The forest is their mother's breast, their home, and their sustenance. The relationship between the forest and the Yörük is similar to the relationship between a mother and her baby.”

Let us ask, have we listened to their thoughts until now?

Discussing when the hostility toward the goat began is no longer current.

However, doesn't the following come to mind?

Did we perhaps adopt the issue of removing goats from forests from the Europeans, who now want to turn back from the mistake they made?

In this regard, let us recall Atatürk's opening speech to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on March 6, 1922: "A certain mentality has emerged that believes one must take advice from Europe, conduct all affairs according to Europe's ambitions, and take all lessons from Europe in order to improve the situation. Yet, what independence has ever been able to rise through the advice of foreigners and the plans of foreigners? History has not recorded such an event."

Is there a solution?

The fundamental solution to forest fires, as I mentioned above, lies in realizing the fact that "nomads and hair goat breeders see themselves as the volunteer guardians of the forest, its mother's breast, its home, and its sustenance, and they liken the relationship between the forest and the Yörük to the relationship between a mother and her baby."

What can be done?

Technical, economic, and social regulations are needed to make hair goat breeding widespread again.

Let us list some of them.

• Goat breeders living in villages in and around forests should be supported economically, technically, and socially. For example, their families' education and health needs should be met socially.

• Accelerating efforts to rationally determine the migration routes of nomadic Yörüks, meeting the needs of nomads such as education and health services, and ensuring their products are marketed at fair prices by enabling them to form cooperatives.

• Organizing villagers in and around forests through cooperatives and giving them a say in the management of forests.

• Organizing events on goat culture in addition to media work on goat products.

• Construction should not be allowed on pastures and highlands. Emphasis should be placed on pasture improvement works, the degradation of the quality of pastures should be prevented, and they should be brought into animal husbandry.

• Forested areas that have exceeded 10-15 years since afforestation should be opened to controlled grazing.

• The Metropolitan Law No. 6360 negatively affects animal production directly and indirectly. Legislation regarding rural areas should be changed, conceptual and practical constraints that affect the production of villages turned into neighborhoods should be removed, and priority should be given to those engaged in agricultural production.

• Wild animal/wolf attacks should be prevented.

• Taking out TARSİM insurance should be encouraged.

• The shepherding profession should be encouraged, the Shepherd Employment Support should be increased, and social security premiums for women in family businesses should be paid.

• Necessary preventive measures for diseases and veterinary services should be taken by local and central official authorities.