Appearing live on TV100 in response to the recent surge in forest fires across Turkey, Prof. Dr. Bülent Sağlam, a faculty member at the Faculty of Forestry at Artvin Çoruh University, shared critical insights. Drawing attention to more than 150 wildfires that broke out within just two days, Prof. Sağlam discussed the main causes of these fires and outlined strategies for forest protection.

In his remarks on TV100, Prof. Sağlam specifically highlighted the recent fires in and around İnegöl, Bursa,and İzmir emphasizing that the vast majority of such incidents are human-induced. "The primary causes of forest fires are barbecues, stubble burning, and uncontrolled agricultural activities," he said, stressing the importance of public awareness and individual responsibility.

Human-Induced Causes of Wildfires

In previous interviews on national channels such as TRT and NTV, Prof. Sağlam emphasized that human activities are responsible for over 90% of forest fires. He noted that summer activities in rural areas—such as picnics, uncontrolled fire use in vineyard cabins, and field clearing by burning—are major contributors to wildfires.

Early Intervention Is Critical

Commenting on recent fires in İnegöl and its surroundings, Prof. Sağlam praised the rapid and coordinated responses of local fire brigades and the General Directorate of Forestry. “The first 15 minutes of response can completely change the outcome of a fire,” he noted.

Prof. Sağlam’s Preventive Recommendations

In the TV100 broadcast, Prof. Sağlam also shared sustainable and long-term strategies for wildfire prevention:

• Strict supervision of agricultural fires: Activities like stubble burning must be regulated and permitted only under controlled and authorized conditions.
• Public education campaigns: Awareness programs should target picnic-goers, vineyard owners, and rural residents to promote fire safety.
• Strengthening fire reporting and rapid response systems: Local efforts must focus on effective promotion and technological infrastructure that enable the public to quickly report fires.

 Collective Responsibility for Nature

Concluding his remarks, Prof. Dr. Bülent Sağlam stressed that forests are not only environmental but also social and economic assets that must be protected: “Forests are not just trees; they are our natural shields against the climate crisis. Every citizen must carry this awareness.”

Prof. Sağlam’s statements on TV100 sparked wide engagement on social media, with numerous shares and calls to take his warnings seriously.