Memorial Forests

The project consists of afforestation works carried out to create commemorative forests throughout the country with individual and corporate sapling donations in order to protect and increase forest assets that provide many ecosystem services such as combating erosion, climate change, protecting biodiversity, water production, providing habitat for wildlife, and raising awareness about the importance of afforestation works since the establishment of the Foundation. The project sites are predominantly located in areas that are considered as state forests within the afforestation programs of the General Directorate of Forestry and include planting saplings in cooperation with the General Directorate of Forestry and carrying out maintenance works for 3 years in each planted area.

Within the scope of the amount of afforestation donations received by the Foundation during the year, it is aimed to achieve a minimum of 70% success at the end of 3 years in each field by conducting field research, sapling planting, maintenance and completion planting in areas where sufficient success cannot be established.

The first memorial forest project was established in Ankara in 1994. Between 1994 and 2022, over 17 million saplings were planted in 265 different areas, covering an area of over 16,000 hectares (the size of 22,400 football fields).

As of 2022, we continued to monitor the success rate and sapling planting efforts at 102 different sites included in the control program. Of the sites where saplings were planted and subject to the three-year maintenance and catch-up planting program, the success rate average for sites completing their third year is 84%, for sites completing their second year is 78%, and for sites just completing their first year is 70%.

As of 2023, we continued to monitor the success rate and sapling planting efforts at 104 different sites within the control program. Of the sites where saplings were planted and subject to the three-year maintenance and catch-up planting program, the success rate average for sites completing their third year is 82%, for sites completing their second year is 71%, and for sites just completing their first year is 76%.

As of 2024, we continued to monitor the success rate and sapling planting efforts at 148 different sites within the control program. Of the sites where saplings were planted and subject to the three-year maintenance and catch-up planting program, the success rate average for sites completing their third year is 75%, for sites completing their second year is 76%, and for sites just completing their first year is 65%.