An average of 2,000 forest fires occur annually in Turkey, damaging large forest areas and threatening ecosystems. Experts point out that climate change and human factors in particular are increasing the frequency and severity of fires.
ISTANBUL (AA) – MEHMET YUSUF MELİKOĞLU – Dr. Merih Göltaş from the Department of Forestry Engineering at Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa (İÜC) Faculty of Forestry stated that 2 thousand fires occur every year in Turkey and said, “According to statistics, while this number was around 1900 between 1988-2000, it increased to 2,100 between 2000-2011. From 2011 to the present, the number of fires has been approaching 2,700. This means that the number of fires is increasing every year.”
Göltaş made evaluations to AA correspondent about the reasons for the increasing number of forest fires especially in the summer months, the effects of climate change on fires and the precautions that need to be taken.
Göltaş stated that there has been a significant increase in the frequency and severity of forest fires in recent years and that this is due to both climate change and human factors.
Göltaş stated that Turkey, as one of the countries located in the Mediterranean belt, experiences fires every year, and said, “This has happened in the past, it does today. It will probably continue to increase in the future. When we look at the number of fires, there are an average of 2 thousand fires every year. According to statistics, while this number was around 1900 between 1988-2000, it increased to an average of 2,100 between 2000-2011. From 2011 to the present, the number of fires has been approaching 2,700. This means that the number of fires is increasing every year.”
Emphasizing that one of the main reasons for this increase is the population growth and the increasing pressure on forests, Göltaş said:
“ Pressures from tourismor the construction of industrial facilities in and around forests, and the increase in the number of agricultural activities also increase the number of fires. Accordingly, as a result of climate change, additional weather conditions increase, fire damage also increases. Fires can easily grow, it becomes difficult to control, and accordingly, the areas we are affected by the fire increase and become more difficult every year.”
– “There is an interaction between the effects of climate change and forest fires”
Göltaş stated that there is a mutual interaction between the effects of climate change and forest fires.
Noting that carbon dioxide is released and greenhouse gas emissions increase due to forest fires, Göltaş noted that this situation triggers climate change and has a negative impact.
Göltaş touched on the effects of climate change on forest fires, saying, “The fire season, which is normally 6 months and lasts between May 1 and November 1, can expand to 7-8 months. In addition, it increases again in extreme weather conditions, dry weather and high wind speeds. Accordingly, it can also cause fires that we call large mega fires.”
Emphasizing that climate change has a major impact on the frequency and severity of fires, Göltaş said:
“The impact of climate change and global warming on the increase in fire damage should not be underestimated. In fact, it is one of the most important reasons. In order for a fire to break out for various reasons, conditions must be suitable. As a result of climate change, dry weather conditions are increasing. As dry weather conditions that should last 2-3 days increase to 10-15 days, the danger of fires can increase many times over. Climate change directly affects fire damage. In the coming years, climate conditions that are getting worse day by day will cause us to update new fire fighting techniques or organizational charts or take new measures in the fight against fires.”
“In 2021, approximately 140 thousand hectares of our land burned due to climate change”
Dr. Merih Göltaş, reminding that some recent forest fires have spread to residential areas, made the following assessment: “It is extremely important that the roofs of residential areas at the bottom of the forest are resistant to burning and not made of easily flammable materials.”
Pointing out that the weather conditions suitable for fires have continued to increase with climate change, Göltaş said, “When we look at the records since 1988, our annual burned amount is around 10 thousand hectares. In 2021, approximately 140 thousand hectares of our area burned due to climate change due to extreme weather conditions. This means that our average area that would burn in 14 years burned in one year. When we look at 2023, this has dropped to 15 thousand hectares again. This is directly related to the weather. I was in the region in 2021. We were faced with weather conditions that we have never seen before. It is literally an oven-like weather condition.”
Göltaş noted that there is a perception in the public that the explosion of cones causes new fires, but that this is not true, and explained that spot fires are caused by the barks of trees rising into the air as embers due to the warming air and falling kilometers away under the effect of the wind.
Göltaş, who explained that Turkey is actively fighting the fires with 105 helicopters, 26 planes and 14 UAVs, emphasized that these figures are quite high compared to neighboring countries.
“90 percent of forest fires in Turkey are caused by humans”
Göltaş said that 90 percent of forest fires in Turkey are caused by humans, which means that 9 out of 10 fires can be prevented if the necessary precautions are taken.
Stating that approximately 50 percent of fires start due to carelessness and negligence, Dr. Göltaş said, “The remaining 30 percent are of unknown cause, the perpetrator is unknown. Since forests are large areas, it is not always possible to determine the causes of fires in these areas. 10 percent are intentional, that is, fires that are started consciously. The other 10 percent are natural fires, which we call lightning-caused fires.”
Göltaş, who stated that the fire that broke out in İzmir the other day was caused by a samovar, warned citizens to keep their distance from fires in the summer months, to stay away from picnics with fires and to avoid throwing cigarette butts haphazardly.
Göltaş stated that beekeeping activities in the forest and fireworks used for celebrations also cause fires, and that stubble fires can also lead to forest fires.
Touching on the importance of post-fire rehabilitation work, Göltaş underlined that following damage assessment work, burnt trees should be cleaned and reforestation should be carried out.
