Manavgat, Turkey sees 5‑million‑seedling reforestation five years after 2021 blaze

Five years after the record‑breaking forest fire that began on 28 July 2021 in Manavgat, Antalya, the region’s forests are being restored through a massive re‑planting program. The Antalya Forest Regional Directorate has overseen the planting of more than 5 million seedlings and the sowing of 101 000 kg of pine seeds across roughly 10 500 ha of affected land in Manavgat, Akseki, İbradı and Gündoğmuş. The work includes natural regeneration on 30 581 ha, artificial regeneration on 14 396 ha, and industrial plantations on 467 ha, using species such as Turkish pine, harnup, rosemary and laurel to create fire‑resistant, sustainable forests.

The effort also honors the seven forest‑workers who lost their lives fighting the fire, with commemorations for Yaşar Cinbaş and Erdal Tovka. Before‑and‑after aerial photos released by the directorate show the area’s transformation from ash‑covered wasteland to a green landscape, highlighting the scale of the environmental recovery.