Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV

Minister warns of desertification in Turkey

by Anadolu Agency

ANKARA Jul 13, 2015 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Anadolu Agency Jul 13, 2015 12:00 am
Forestry and Waterworks Minister Veysel Eroğlu on Monday warned about the increase in non-arable land, saying that 500,000 hectares in the world turn into deserts every year due to poor irrigation alone.

"Turkey is among the countries that will be greatly affected by the increase in non-arable land and climate change due to its geographical position, geological structure, topography and climate," he said. He also stressed that 65 percent of Turkish land has the characteristics of arid, semi-arid and semi-humid climates, and central and southeastern Turkey is especially vulnerable to the risk of desertification.

The minister said more than 60 percent of land in Turkey contains an elevation that is far higher than most of Europe's. More than half of arable land is subject to erosion every year, and 178 million tons of soil is moved to the sea and lakes every year because of erosion. "Turkey does not have a desert but there is a risk of developing one. This will not be a traditional desert with sand dunes, but rather a loss of arable land or a decrease in viability," he underscored. "The increase in non-arable land costs more than $42 billion each year, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)," Eroğlu told Anadolu Agency (AA). "Africa alone suffers an annual financial loss of $9 billion."

Eroğlu said Turkey is one of the top five countries struggling with the increase in non-arable land and erosion. The mass planting of trees and improving pastures are among the measures being taken against erosion and desertification as part of an action plan by the government. Eroğlu said an area covering 2.4 million hectares have been planted with trees and areas with decayed forests were rehabilitated.
  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Jul 13, 2015 7:55 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    homepage
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    No Image
    In photos: Opening ceremony of Tokyo 2020 Paralympics
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021