Statement from the General Directorate of Forestry regarding the forest area in İzmir

In a post shared on its official X account, the General Directorate of Forestry stated, "In response to the post shared by some social media accounts claiming that 'a forest area in the Karşıyaka district of İzmir that burned 15 days ago has been removed from forest boundaries,' it has been deemed appropriate for the General Directorate of Forestry to make the following statement.

Following the earthquake that occurred in İzmir on October 30, 2020, a study was initiated by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change to identify areas for the construction of housing to meet the needs of citizens whose homes were damaged. The relevant Ministry requested a 375-hectare area in the Bayraklı district, which, while within forest boundaries, consisted of grassland, stones, and rocks and did not possess forest characteristics, for the construction of earthquake housing.

It was decided to remove this area from forest boundaries with a decision published in the Official Gazette dated November 26, 2020, so that it could be utilized for the construction of housing for earthquake victims. However, this legal action was canceled by the Council of State on October 13, 2023, on the grounds of procedural deficiencies.

The procedural deficiency in the process was corrected and rectified, and it was decided to remove it from forest boundaries again with a decision published in the Official Gazette dated August 31, 2024, and numbered 32648.

While the aforementioned process was ongoing, a fire broke out in the Karşıyaka and Bayraklı districts of İzmir on August 15, 2024. A 95-hectare portion of the area removed from forest boundaries in Bayraklı by the decision in the Official Gazette was affected by this fire. However, this affected portion is an area consisting of stones, rocks, and unproductive land that does not possess actual forest characteristics, where no benefit is seen in its preservation as a forest, and which cannot be converted into agricultural land.

In conclusion, there is no such situation as a burning forest area being removed from forest boundaries, as alleged in the news and comments. An area that does not actually have forest cover or forest characteristics has been removed from forest boundaries," the statement said.

The statement added, "The removal of an area from forest boundaries is carried out within the scope of Article 16 of the Forest Law No. 6831. The consideration here is that the area is one that does not possess actual forest characteristics, consists of stones, rocks, and unproductive land, where no benefit is seen in its preservation as a forest, and which cannot be converted into agricultural land.

Our forests are under protection by Article 169 of our Constitution. Our burned forests are being reforested after fires, and the afforestation work to be carried out in these areas is shared with the public. Work to reforest our forests damaged in the İzmir fire began after the fire. Furthermore, an area at least twice the size of the area removed from forest status is being allocated to our General Directorate by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change for the establishment of new forests, and work to establish forests in these areas is being carried out," it said.

News Source: İHA