President Ersin Tatar and First Lady Sibel Tatar participate in the sapling planting event at the Presidential Welcome Baby Memorial Forest
President Ersin Tatar and First Lady Sibel Tatar have participated in the third sapling planting event at the Presidential Welcome Baby Memorial Forest.
Photos
Reforestation efforts have been stepped up by the Presidency with the third sapling planting event at the Presidential “Welcome Baby Memorial Forest” located between Tepebaşı and Kalkanlı on Friday.
The event was also attended by Hüseyin Çavuş, Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Ercan Poyraz, Director of the Forestry Department, presidential staff and members of the public.
Approximately 7,500 donums of forest land had been destroyed by a devastating fire in the region in May 2020. This project is aimed at contributing to reforestation efforts under the auspices of First Lady Sibel Tatar and the Presidency.
The Presidential “Welcome Baby Memorial Forest”, which was first opened in April 2021 under the leadership of First Lady Sibel Tatar, envisages the planting of a sapling for each baby born in the TRNC, over an area of 90 donums. Approximately 2,000 saplings are being planted this year in the forestland that is located between Tepebaşı and Kalkanlı, for babies born in 2024. President Tatar and the First Lady also planted saplings at the event.
President Tatar, who spoke at the event, said that the Presidential Welcome Baby Memorial Forest was developed “in order to set an example as a social responsibility project, and to raise awareness on the need to protect our forests, environment and wildlife”.
“The project envisages the planting of saplings for each and every new born baby in the TRNC,” President Tatar said. “The sapling is then named after the new born baby, and a certificate is issued to the parents of the baby,” the President added.
Stating that near to 10,000 saplings have been planted on the allocated land so far, President Tatar noted that the “number of saplings planted is expected to reach 12,000 in 2026”.
“I wish to pay tribute to the First Lady for leading this project and to the families who have participated in naming a tree after their newborn baby," President Tatar said. "Planting trees is very important in that it will be beneficial to our environment, wildlife and help in the reforestation efforts of this region. It also raises awareness on the importance of the need to protect our forests," he added.
President Tatar added that he hopes "planting a sapling for every child and issuing a certificate will inspire future generations for years to come to protect the environment and the natural habitat”.
Pointing to the “importance of taking effective fire prevention measures in a timely manner,” President Tatar said: “The Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority, Forestry Department and other institutions should start implementing precautions against fire before it is too late.”
Stating that forests cover over four billion hectares of the Earth's landmass, equivalent to about 30 per cent of total land area, President Tatar said: “The landmass of forests in the TRNC makes up about 20 per cent of our country. We should all together have a national aim to increase this figure to about 30 per cent. Continuing to plant saplings in order to replenish our forests through different schemes and initiatives with the inclusion of different sections of our society will help achieve this objective.”
Noting that 10,000 saplings have been planted in the memorial forest in the last four years, President Tatar stated that an average of 2,000 births take place every year, where a sapling is planted and named for each baby. He said: "It is my greatest hope that the project will be continued forever.”
President Tatar also thanked Motherland Türkiye for providing the saplings, the Turkish Cypriot Peace Forces Command of the 39th Mechanised Infantry Division, and Lapta Alsancak Çamlıbel Municipality for their support to the project.
Minister Çavuş, who also addressed the event, said that an area of 7,500 donums of forestland had been turned to ashes in the devastating Tepebaşı – Kalkanlı fire of May 2020. “Since then, we have put into operation various schemes as part of reforestation efforts,” he said.
Stating that, as the Ministry, they ensured that 350,000 saplings were planted during the “planting season,” Minister Çavuş said: “Each individual has a responsibility to take care of the planted trees after it has been planted.”
Stating that more than 8,500 saplings were planted in the Presidential Welcome Baby Memorial Forest, Mr. Çavuş said: “I wish to congratulate and thank the Presidency and the many institutions and organisations who have taken action following the need for post-fire reforestation in this region.”
Presidential Department Director Osman Çağakan and Agriculture, Livestock and Entrepreneurship Advisor Ahmet Hamdi was also present at the event.
The event was also attended by Hüseyin Çavuş, Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Ercan Poyraz, Director of the Forestry Department, presidential staff and members of the public.
Approximately 7,500 donums of forest land had been destroyed by a devastating fire in the region in May 2020. This project is aimed at contributing to reforestation efforts under the auspices of First Lady Sibel Tatar and the Presidency.
The Presidential “Welcome Baby Memorial Forest”, which was first opened in April 2021 under the leadership of First Lady Sibel Tatar, envisages the planting of a sapling for each baby born in the TRNC, over an area of 90 donums. Approximately 2,000 saplings are being planted this year in the forestland that is located between Tepebaşı and Kalkanlı, for babies born in 2024. President Tatar and the First Lady also planted saplings at the event.
President Tatar, who spoke at the event, said that the Presidential Welcome Baby Memorial Forest was developed “in order to set an example as a social responsibility project, and to raise awareness on the need to protect our forests, environment and wildlife”.
“The project envisages the planting of saplings for each and every new born baby in the TRNC,” President Tatar said. “The sapling is then named after the new born baby, and a certificate is issued to the parents of the baby,” the President added.
Stating that near to 10,000 saplings have been planted on the allocated land so far, President Tatar noted that the “number of saplings planted is expected to reach 12,000 in 2026”.
“I wish to pay tribute to the First Lady for leading this project and to the families who have participated in naming a tree after their newborn baby," President Tatar said. "Planting trees is very important in that it will be beneficial to our environment, wildlife and help in the reforestation efforts of this region. It also raises awareness on the importance of the need to protect our forests," he added.
President Tatar added that he hopes "planting a sapling for every child and issuing a certificate will inspire future generations for years to come to protect the environment and the natural habitat”.
Pointing to the “importance of taking effective fire prevention measures in a timely manner,” President Tatar said: “The Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority, Forestry Department and other institutions should start implementing precautions against fire before it is too late.”
Stating that forests cover over four billion hectares of the Earth's landmass, equivalent to about 30 per cent of total land area, President Tatar said: “The landmass of forests in the TRNC makes up about 20 per cent of our country. We should all together have a national aim to increase this figure to about 30 per cent. Continuing to plant saplings in order to replenish our forests through different schemes and initiatives with the inclusion of different sections of our society will help achieve this objective.”
Noting that 10,000 saplings have been planted in the memorial forest in the last four years, President Tatar stated that an average of 2,000 births take place every year, where a sapling is planted and named for each baby. He said: "It is my greatest hope that the project will be continued forever.”
President Tatar also thanked Motherland Türkiye for providing the saplings, the Turkish Cypriot Peace Forces Command of the 39th Mechanised Infantry Division, and Lapta Alsancak Çamlıbel Municipality for their support to the project.
Minister Çavuş, who also addressed the event, said that an area of 7,500 donums of forestland had been turned to ashes in the devastating Tepebaşı – Kalkanlı fire of May 2020. “Since then, we have put into operation various schemes as part of reforestation efforts,” he said.
Stating that, as the Ministry, they ensured that 350,000 saplings were planted during the “planting season,” Minister Çavuş said: “Each individual has a responsibility to take care of the planted trees after it has been planted.”
Stating that more than 8,500 saplings were planted in the Presidential Welcome Baby Memorial Forest, Mr. Çavuş said: “I wish to congratulate and thank the Presidency and the many institutions and organisations who have taken action following the need for post-fire reforestation in this region.”
Presidential Department Director Osman Çağakan and Agriculture, Livestock and Entrepreneurship Advisor Ahmet Hamdi was also present at the event.