11 million saplings planted across Turkey as part of mass campaign

Some 11 million saplings have been planted across Turkey during a mass campaign initiated by the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry. The country aims to break the world record for most trees planted in an hour.

Duvar English

Some 11 million saplings were simultaneously planted on Nov. 11 in different localities across Turkey, as part of a mass campaign called “Breath for the Future.” 

Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Ministry launched the campaign in late October. 

The ministry officials have planted the saplings on behalf of people who adopted them online. Besides the government, a number of NGOs have also joined the drive. 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the mass tree-planting project in the capital Ankara, praising the locals’ enthusiastic participation in ceremonies nationwide.

"By planting 4.5 billion saplings over the last 17 years, the breadth of Turkey’s forests has expanded from 20.8 million hectares to 22.6 million,” he said, referring to the tenure of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). 

Erdoğan said that he hopes such planting ceremonies on Nov. 11 will become an annual event for the Turkish public, something made possible by his declaration of a yearly National Forestation Day on today’s date. 

Erdoğan also said that the mass campaign was being observed by officials from the Guinness World Records as Turkey aims to break the world record by planting the highest number of trees ever planted in one hour.