Forestry General Manager Bekir Karacabey stated that 1 million 50 tons of non-wood forest products will be produced this year and ₺1 billion will be contributed to forest villagers, while the contribution of non-wood forest products to the country’s economy will be ₺8 billion. Stating that an artificial truffle forest will be established on 22 hectares of land by the end of this year, Karacabey said, “At the end of the action plan, an artificial truffle forest will be established on a total of 98 hectares of land.”
Forestry General Manager Bekir Karacabey talked about his goals in non-wood products and how the burned forest areas were greened. Karacabey’s statements are as follows:
₺8 BILLION TO THE ECONOMY: This year, 1 million 50 tons of non-wood forest products will be produced, and by the end of the year, its contribution to our forest villagers is expected to be ₺1 billion. In 2021, the contribution of non-wood forest products to the national economy was realized as ₺7 billion. This year, it is aimed that the contribution of non-wood forest products to the national economy will be ₺8 billion.
MEDICAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS CENTER WILL BE ESTABLISHED: In order to increase the contribution of non-wood forest products to the country’s economy and to be a guiding guide for investors who want to invest in this field, TAB workshops and international TAB conferences were held and shared with the public. In addition, a Medical and Aromatic Plants Center was established in Afyonkarahisar, and R&D and P&D studies were carried out in this field. Again, with the protocol signed between our Medical and Aromatic Plants Center and Afyon Kocatepe University, support was provided for the studies of scientists on MAPs plants and products.
SOLAR ENERGY INCREASED: Thanks to the ‘Electricity Production from Solar Energy Project’, which has been included in the scope of support in recent years, so that our villagers can produce the electricity they need themselves, our villagers got rid of the trouble of paying their electricity bills. The forest villagers, who pay an average monthly bill of ₺150-175, either do not pay at all or pay small amounts such as ₺15-20.
MUSHROOM FOREST WILL BE ESTABLISHED: Action Plans for two mushroom species covering the years 2022-2026 have been prepared. In the last 6 years, truffle gardens have been established by the public and private sectors, and the country’s economy is contributed by exporting the products obtained. Within the scope of the Truffle Action Plan, an artificial truffle forest will be established on an area of 22 hectares in 2022. At the end of the action plan, an artificial truffle forest will be created on a total area of 98 hectars. It is planned to contribute ₺170 million to our forest villagers and ₺1 billion 530 million to the country’s economy by producing 425 tons in total.
₺550 MILLION RETURN FROM CEDAR MUSHROOM: Cedar Mushroom, which has high medicinal and aromatic potential, grows naturally in our country. Within the scope of the Action Plan, 310 tons of production will be made in 2022, and it will contribute ₺11.8 million to our forest villagers and ₺59.4 million to the country’s economy. At the end of the Action Plan, 2 thousand 500 tons of production will be made and it is aimed to contribute ₺110 million to forest villagers and ₺550 million to the country’s economy.
FIRE-RESISTANT FORESTS WILL BE ESTABLISHED: The works to be established mainly by using red pine are carried out taking into account the circle we refer to as the “Rehabilitation of Burnt Forest Areas and Fire-Resistant Forests Plant Project”, which we briefly refer to as YARDOP. Within the scope of this project, besides fire-resistant tree, shrub and shrub species, local, leafy or coniferous species with different burning characteristics that can be mixed with red pine in small groups are used. When the species to be used in the Fire Response Facilities to be established on both sides of the existing roads, fire safety roads and lanes and the transportation facilities to be built in case of need in forest areas subject to re-establishment damaged by fire are listed towards the forest; a 20-30 meter zone will be formed by short, then tall, fast-burning herbaceous and woody plants (thyme, mullein, prickly pear, oleander, turmeric, carob, acacia, fig, mulberry, walnut, ash, etc.), followed by at least 10-15 rows (20-30 meters) of cypress planted tightly and crosswise.
Source: Sabah / Translated by Irem Yildiz