ALJ Türkiye's tree campaign started with 1.4 million saplings

ALJ Turkey has launched a reforestation campaign that will serve as an example for all sectors to combat climate change and rebuild forested areas lost to the increasing number of forest fires in recent years. As part of this initiative, the company announced its decision to plant 10 saplings for every vehicle sold under its Toyota, Lexus, and BYD brands. This will result in the planting of 1.4 million saplings within a year, along with the vehicles sold.

The company will carry out this tree mobilization in cooperation with the Forestry Development and Forest Fire Fighting Services Support Foundation (OGEM-VAK) and will make significant contributions to the greening of Türkiye every year.

ALJ Turkey CEO Ali Haydar Bozkurt announced that this campaign will not only be implemented for one year but will be implemented continuously for all vehicle brands sold within the company from now on, thus planting more than 1 million trees every year throughout Turkey. He underlined the importance of the tree mobilization and said, "We see that one of the most efficient ways to combat climate change, the negative effects of which we have experienced more intensely in recent years, is to increase afforestation. However, unfortunately, we lose thousands of acres of forestland every year to terrible fires. As trees decrease, rainfall decreases, and we sadly experience the many disasters that occur every year, especially erosion and floods. As a company, we wanted to work on this issue and launch a mobilization that will inspire all sectors. We believe that we have a responsibility towards the lands where we do business. By planting 10 trees for every vehicle sold, we will ensure that 1 million 400 thousand saplings reach the soil within one year. By carrying out this mobilization, we will have provided our country with a green area the size of approximately 1000 football fields within one year. As we all know, "We recently experienced major forest fires. The fire in Karabük, where we lost 55 hectares of forest, was one of these. The saplings we will plant in one year will be approximately 14-15 times the size of the forest that burned in Karabük. Furthermore, the trees planted along with vehicle sales will largely offset the environmental damage caused by automobiles, from their production to their use," he said.

"We invite all sectors to join this tree mobilization"

Bozkurt stated that they wanted the tree campaign to be limited to ALJ Turkey. He said, "If we, as a company, can plant 1.4 million trees annually, it's possible to reach 50-100 million trees annually with the participation of companies from various sectors. The most important thing here is to ensure the success and continuity of such campaigns. That's why we decided to work with OGEM-VAK. The importance of such a project isn't just paying the sapling fee to the relevant NGO; it's also about ensuring that the right tree species are planted in the right areas of the country and monitoring the protection of these forests in the coming years. We work with exactly this kind of organization, and we've made plans to continue this campaign every year without interruption. I want to call on all companies and all sectors on this issue: let's provide our country with new forests now. Otherwise, we will face numerous challenges, especially water problems, in the coming years. If we want to leave a breathable future for our children, we have no choice but to invest in nature."

Scientific approach to afforestation with OGEM-VAK

The company is carrying out the afforestation campaign in collaboration with OGEM and VAK. As part of the afforestation needs plan determined by OGEM and VAK across Turkey, saplings will be planted according to soil structure, vegetation, tree species, and planting timing. In addition to planting the saplings, the Foundation will also care for the trees for a period of three to five years, depending on the species. This will ensure the saplings reach their ecological independence, and any that fail will be replaced with new ones. This will ensure a lasting green space for Türkiye for years to come.

It will be a home for hundreds of thousands of animals

Forests and green spaces are crucial not only for humans but also for animals. Forests, which will be created through afforestation efforts tailored to needs across Türkiye, will also be home to wildlife. Approximately 10 percent of the trees chosen for ALJ Türkiye's afforestation campaign will consist of fruit trees. These new forests, which will provide a source of habitat and food for hundreds of thousands of wild animals, will contribute to the development of an ecosystem in addition to the afforestation effort.

UAV

Reporter: News Center