Tornadoes Hit Forests Western Black Sea Region
In the provinces of Bartın, Karabük, and Zonguldak, more than 65 percent of which are covered with forests according to their surface area, tornadoes occurred in forests in the 8-month period from November 2023 to June 2024. During this period, 133,531 hectares of forest areas were damaged in Bartın, 201,521 hectares in Zonguldak, and 287,761 hectares in Karabük. As a result of the tornadoes, many beech, fir, and black pine trees were knocked down in the Alaplı and Devrek districts of Zonguldak and the Dirgine region, the Ulus district of Bartın, the Yenice district of Karabük, and the Büyükdüz and Eğriova regions . The Zonguldak Regional Forestry Directorate teams continue their work to detect and remove fallen trees in order to protect the tree population.
Factors Affecting Our Forests
Prof. Dr. Ali Durkaya from Bartın University Faculty of Forestry stated that the forests in the Western Black Sea region have the richest forest assets in Turkey. The climate and soil structure of the region provide a suitable environment for the development of mixed forests. However, due to agricultural activities in the past years, there has been a decrease in soil depth. Recently, increasing weather events and global climate change have caused unusual tornadoes and tree falls in the region.
Supports of Cooperatives
Cooperatives operating in the Kumluca district of Bartın are supporting the work of forest management teams. Mustafa Güney, Chairman of the Limited Liability Zafer and Surrounding Villages Agricultural Development Cooperative, stated that they are cooperating with the Zonguldak Forestry Regional Directorate to remove the trees that fell due to the tornado. It was stated that in the face of this extraordinary situation, the co-operators continue their support in order to protect the forests and contribute to the economy.
