We were deeply saddened to learn from our newest member organisation, the Forest Protection Officers Association Turkey, of the deaths of several of their rangers, forest workers and volunteers.
Ümit Akyel
Enes Kızılyer
Sercan Ütni
Hilmi Şahin
Eyüp Dereli
Tolunay Kocaman
Ragıp Şahin
İbrahim Demir
Adem Nazım Demirel
Alperen Özcan
Bayram Eren Arslan
İlker Onarıcı
Muharrem Can
Tekin Enes Sarıyıldız
Ali Tekerek
They all lost their lives in one of the several wildfires, including those in İzmir, Eskişehir, and Osmaniye, either as victims of the fires themselves or in a related traffic accident.
Our thoughts are with the bereaved families of these conservationists who risked everything to protect life. We are also with the families whose losses we do not know by name. We wish them all the support and strength they will now need.
Forest fires have been flaring up for weeks – Letter of Solidarity for fire fighting members
For weeks, forest fires have been flaring up repeatedly in Turkey. As in many countries in Europe and around the world, these fires are devastating, many of them unprecedented in intensity and, according to scientists, also a consequence of climate change.
Alongside many other firefighting experts, the rangers, forest workers and volunteers from our member organisations are currently on the front line, working hard to bring the numerous fires under control. Read our letter here as a sign of solidarity and respect for all those who carry out such dangerous work to protect lives.
YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT FAMILIES OF FALLEN RANGERS?
The Thin Green Line Foundation (TGLF), an organisation that, among others, specialises in providing financial assistance to the families of fallen rangers and conservationists as the ones honoured here, is the perfect point of contact:
photo credits: Troy Winborg/Getty Images via canva.com