CUMHURBAŞKANI RECEP TAYYİP ERDOĞAN:
"TURKEY IS THE LEADER FOR COMBATING DESERTIFICATION IN THE WORLD."
President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan said "Turkey is the leader for combating erosion in the world and is one of the rare countries that increases its forest area. An average of 75 million saplings were produced annually until 2002. We have produced 350 million saplings per year for 16 years. We have established the stock market of seedlings and ornamental plants and the center of medical and aromatic plants. We have ensured that our forest villagers earn 15 billion Liras income for 16 years by providing direct support to our villagers and with forestry activities."
President Erdoğan participated in the program of "The Youngs Grow with Saplings" organized in the Forest of Haydar Aliyev in Batıkent. Erdoğan stated "The primary the reason that forced people to leave their place except for conflict and the war is desertification. More than 10 million hectares of agricultural land are being lost every year. 1 billion people cannot be fed enough due to destruction of 5 million hectares of forest land." in his speech.
Stating that global food production is expected to decrease 12 percent by 2035 due to the poor use of soils, Erdoğan emphasized that the rapid melting of glaciers at the poles is seen as the signal of environmental problems threatening humanity.
Stating that another aspect of the issue is that the poor countries in Asia, South America and Africa have to deal with these problems caused by the western rich states said Erdoğan and added "Unfortunately, poor people are paying the entire cost of industrialization phases that the western societies obtained their wealth and prosperity."
"WE PLANTED 4 BILLION AND 70 MILLION TREES."
Stating that they made intensive efforts to strengthen forest assets of Turkey and make a greener Turkey in last 16 years, President Erdoğan said "We served our country with sincerity, instead of vandalizing the streets and exploiting the tree and the environment in the Gezi events.
Explaining that Turkey has reached to 22,3 million hectares of forests which is 21 billion hectares in 2002, Erdoğan notified that the number of national parks increased from 32 to 43 and the number of natural parks increased from 16 to 243.
Erdoğan explained that honey and city forests were first established in their ruling time and there are 137 city forests, 424 honey forests today.
Stating that they planted 4 billion and 70 million saplings in 16 years and they aim to increase this figure to 7 billion, Erdoğan said "They are not only dealing with desertification in the world, but also they fight against desertification in the minds."
Erdoğan stated that they increased the number of specially protected areas from 175 to 578 and while the amount of soil carried by erosion to seas, lakes and dams in the 1970s was 500 million tons per year, this amount was reduced to 154 million tons in the last 16 years.
Stating that forest trees with fruit as walnut, almond, pistachio pine were planted.with 5 thousand projects of forests generating income for 5 thousand villages for the development in their villages of forest villagers, Erdoğan remarked that 8,7 million saplings were planted in 49.000 school in the last decade and this figure will rise with the project of "The Youngs Grow with Saplings."
Indicating that there are important developments intended waste management, the use of climate friendly technology and energy resources and improving quality of air, water and soil throughout Turkey, Erdoğan said "We give precedence to renewable energy sources. We can not reach just planting saplings to greener, cleaner Turkey. Therefore, we give precedence to the works that will prevent environmental pollution and waste and bring environmental awareness to our people."