Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean recognizes Turkiye's success in forestation efforts

By Ayse Bocuoglu Bodur

ANKARA (AA) - Turkiye's General Directorate of Forestry was deemed worthy of the Institutional Achievement Award by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM).

According to a written statement from the Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Ministry, as a result of the evaluation made by the relevant boards of PAM, where 28 countries, including Turkiye, operate as a member and five countries operate with a common status, the General Directorate of Forestry, which planted more than 600 million saplings in a year, had been nominated for the institution success award by the Turkish Delegation of PAM before.

In the statement, the country's Agriculture and Forestry Minister Vahit Kirisci voiced his satisfaction that the General Directorate of Forestry was deemed worthy of the award by PAM.

Kirisci stressed that Turkiye ranks 1st in Europe, 6th in the world among the countries that increase the forest assets, adding It also ranks the 1st in Europe and 4th in the world in terms of afforestation.

Recalling that there are many forest fires in the country, especially in the summer months, due to weather conditions and other reasons, the minister noted that the forest organization is equipped with new technologies to prevent fires.

Established in 2005 with the aim of regional cooperation in the Mediterranean, PAM focus on regional stability, security and confidence-building measures, fight against terrorism, globalization, environment, climate change, migration, development, economy, trade, finance, industry, agriculture, fisheries, employment and population, poverty, water and energy resources, environmental protection, tourism, transportation, science, technology and culture.

* Writing by Seda Sevencan