Firefighters face heightened penalties in a crackdown by Turkey, aimed at tackling the intensifying wildfire crisis.
Turkey is currently grappling with a surge in forest fires, prompting the government to take action. According to environmental law expert Cömert Uygar Erdem, the root of the problem lies in inadequate forest protection policies.
The destructive 2025 fire season saw a significant number of wildfires, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stating that 96 percent of the 4,247 forest fires recorded since the beginning of the year were caused by human activity. In response, a bill is under parliamentary consideration proposing life imprisonment for deliberate forest arson, aimed at deterring such crimes.
The draft legislation also envisions strict prison terms for negligent fire-starting. Authorities are enhancing enforcement and prevention measures, with approximately 131,000 trained volunteer citizens assisting firefighting efforts. Nearly 100 prosecutions related to recent fire incidents reflect active legal enforcement.
Currently, individuals who intentionally set forest fires face a minimum prison sentence of 10 years, while those causing fires through negligence or regulatory violations risk up to 10 years imprisonment. Retired forestry official Necdet Demirsu warns against replacing forestland with agricultural trees, stressing that such practices disrupt the ecosystem.
Professor Dr. Osman Devrim Elvan, an environmental and forestry lawyer, identifies insufficient supervision of forest permits and deregulation favoring non-forest use of land as factors in Turkey's ongoing fire crisis. He also points out problems in the enforcement of penal code provisions.
Lack of public awareness is another issue highlighted by Professor Dr. Osman Devrim Elvan. Lawyer Doğan Erkan argues that intentional and negligent actions leading to forest fires must be met with heavier punishments. He suggests a specific clause under the 'crimes against the constitution' section of the penal code for cases of deliberate arson, since forests are protected under the constitution.
Cömert Uygar Erdem adds that increasing penalties alone is not enough to prevent forest fires in Turkey. He emphasizes the need for comprehensive policies addressing the root causes of the issue. The Harmancık fire in Bursa, which started on July 25, is still burning, underscoring the urgency of these measures.
In summary, Turkey is proposing stricter penalties for forest fires, including life imprisonment for deliberate arson, and is implementing measures to enhance enforcement and public awareness. However, experts stress the need for comprehensive policies to address the root causes of the issue and ensure effective forest protection.
- The draft legislation, currently under parliamentary consideration, proposes life imprisonment for deliberate forest arson as a means to deter such crimes, suggesting that a significant portion of forest fires in Turkey are caused by human activity.
- Professor Dr. Osman Devrim Elvan, an environmental and forestry lawyer, points out the insufficient supervision of forest permits and deregulation favoring non-forest use of land as factors contributing to Turkey's ongoing fire crisis, underscoring the need for comprehensive policies.
- In addition to stricter penalties, experts like Cömert Uygar Erdem argue for the development of comprehensive policies that address the root causes of forest fires in Turkey, such as inadequate forest protection policies, lack of public awareness, and disruptive practices like replacing forestland with agricultural trees.
