President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emphasized Türkiye’s significant progress in expanding its forest assets during the “Green Homeland Heroes On Duty” event held at Etimesgut Airport in Ankara.

Addressing attendees, Erdoğan announced that Türkiye’s forested area has increased from 20.8 million hectares in 2002 to 23.4 million hectares today, covering approximately 30 percent of the country’s total land area.

“Thanks be to Allah, we have increased our forest assets from 20.8 million hectares in 2002 to 23.4 million hectares today,” Erdoğan said. “Since 2002, we have planted more than 7.5 billion saplings across our heavenly homeland.”

The president also highlighted the nation’s ongoing afforestation efforts under the campaign titled ‘Breath for the Future’, which has engaged millions of citizens in planting trees nationwide.

Looking ahead, Erdoğan pledged to complete the reforestation of areas affected by recent wildfires by the end of next year.

“With the afforestation campaigns we have been carrying out, millions of our citizens have planted saplings,” he said. “We will definitely complete the afforestation of the areas affected by the fires by the end of next year.”

The event celebrated the contributions of volunteers and officials dedicated to Türkiye’s environmental preservation and forestation initiatives. (ILKHA)