ESKİŞEHİR EU INFORMATİON CENTER PLANTS 10,000 SAPLİNGS TO CREATE A NEW MEMORİAL FOREST

The Eskişehir EU Information Center, in collaboration with the Eskişehir Forest Regional Directorate, has planted 10,000 saplings for the “ETO - European Union Memorial Forest.”

Operating under the Eskişehir Chamber of Commerce (ETO), the Eskişehir EU Information Center has planted 10,000 saplings in the afforestation project area located in the Odunpazarı Yeniakçayır neighborhood. The “ETO - European Union Memorial Forest” was established as part of the European Commission's global "Map My Tree" campaign, with contributions from the EU Delegation to Turkey. The sapling planting event was attended by Deputy Director of the Eskişehir Forest Regional Directorate İsmet Kıraç, Eskişehir Forest Operations Manager Doğan Kiras, ETO President Metin Güler, board and assembly members, and ETO staff, along with Oğuzhan Çobanoğlu, the Afforestation and Soil Conservation Chief.

Our Memorial Forests Are a Legacy for the Future

Before the sapling planting, ETO President Metin Güler stated that the Eskişehir Chamber of Commerce is establishing its 10th memorial forest in its 130th year. “Trees hold great importance for our environment. As the business world, we place great importance on protecting the environment and sustainable development. Therefore, we are always ready to support environmentally friendly activities such as tree planting. The saplings we plant today through our Eskişehir EU Information Center will be a legacy for future generations,” he remarked.

Today's Saplings Will Become Tomorrow's Forests

Deputy Director of the Eskişehir Forest Regional Directorate, İsmet Kıraç, noted, “We regard these saplings as your entrusted assets. The seeds that will form here will contribute to the establishment of new forests. We have not only pine trees but also deciduous trees such as oaks and junipers. In the coming years, we will closely monitor all processes, including the cultivation of these saplings. We will take care of your entrusted assets,” he stated.

Contributing to a Green Future

In collaboration with the EU Delegation to Turkey and local partners, a large-scale afforestation campaign aims to plant approximately 170,000 saplings across 19 cities.

This event, part of the European Commission's global "Map My Tree" campaign, was launched on November 11, 2023, which is celebrated as National Afforestation Day. The sapling planting activities will be conducted under the supervision of the General Directorate of Forestry throughout November in a total of 19 cities, including Eskişehir, Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Denizli, Diyarbakır, Edirne, Gaziantep, İzmir, Istanbul, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Konya, Mersin, Samsun, Sivas, Şanlıurfa, Trabzon, and Van.

The sapling planting event aims to contribute to the global fight against climate change while symbolizing the cooperation between the EU and Turkey for a greener and more sustainable future.