Türkiye plans to produce 118 million saplings, expand firefighting fleet

ANKARA / ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye’s General Directorate of Forestry plans to produce 118 million saplings this year and strengthen its wildfire response capacity with new vehicles and equipment, according to a review of the country’s 2026 Investment Program.

The directorate, known as OGM and operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, will allocate 19.8 billion Turkish liras, about $456 million, for projects ranging from sapling production and forestry infrastructure to firefighting, erosion control and aerial fleet expansion.

Of the total funding, more than 8 billion liras, or $184 million, will go to ongoing projects, 11.5 billion liras, or $265 million, to new projects and 263.3 million liras, about $6 million, to feasibility studies.

The largest single share, 3.6 billion liras, or $82.8 million, has been earmarked for the Forestry Infrastructure and Machinery Acquisition Project, which will cover 62 provinces. Under the program, OGM plans to purchase 35 tools and devices, one fire truck, 35 excavators, 66 first-response vehicles and five fire logistics vehicles.

The project also includes major repairs on 2,832 kilometers of forest roads, construction of 1,585 kilometers of forest road structures, 731 kilometers of stabilized surfacing and 1,760 kilometers of new forest roads.

Sapling production and maintenance will receive the second-largest allocation, with 3 billion liras, or $69 million, set aside for projects in 67 provinces. The funding will support 30 tree and seed improvement projects, maintenance of 143 million saplings and production of 118 million new saplings. It will also cover equipment for 59 nurseries, 24 irrigation systems and seed care and production of 100 tons each.

Climate-resilient forestry projects will receive 2.3 billion liras, or $52.9 million, this year. The Climate-Resilient Forestry Project, scheduled to run through 2030 in 16 provinces, includes the purchase of 165 tools and devices, one fire truck, 75 bulldozers, 65 graders, nine communication systems, 88 first-response vehicles, 12 trailer tractors, 70 water supply vehicles and 125 fire observation towers.

Another 1.75 billion liras, or $40.3 million, has been allocated to the Forest Development and Expansion Project, which will operate nationwide. The project aims to carry out afforestation on 20,000 hectares, tree maintenance on 35,000 hectares and rehabilitation work on 1,550 hectares.

Erosion control and soil conservation efforts will also be expanded, with a budget of 1 billion liras, or $23 million, covering 66 provinces. Planned work includes pasture improvement on 8,973 hectares in 44 provinces and flood control measures on 19,788 hectares. Soil conservation efforts will involve erosion control on 12,000 hectares in 61 provinces and maintenance on 52,000 hectares.

Forest protection and firefighting projects will receive 1.175 billion liras, or $27 million. Planned investments include eight drones, 2,000 camera traps, 15 first-response team buildings, 12 ground support units for aerial vehicles, 23 laboratory devices, four fire observation towers, 55 fire ponds, one fire logistics vehicle and the construction of a fire prevention facility.

Industrial plantation activities across 33 provinces have been allocated 940 million liras, or $21.6 million. The program includes afforestation on 18,000 hectares and maintenance on 135,000 hectares.

OGM will also continue strengthening its aerial firefighting capacity. A budget of 800 million liras, or $18.4 million, has been set aside for helicopter and plane purchases and related equipment. The project, which will run through 2028, includes the acquisition of 19 helicopters and five firefighting planes, along with software, devices and auxiliary equipment.

Part of the funding will also be used to renovate operational directorates and housing units of regional forestry directorates damaged by earthquakes in various provinces.