Turgut Ertop’s 1971 reforestation project featured in COP31 documentary

The story of Turgut Ertop, a former TCDD road maintenance chief who began a reforestation project at Benliahmet Station in Kars in 1971, has been featured in a documentary for COP31. At age 28, Ertop initiated the planting of saplings brought from Amasya to protect the railway line from harsh winter conditions and icing caused by wind.

Fifty-five years later, the saplings have grown into a forest. Now 83, Ertop revisited the station for the documentary filming and was moved to see the results of his work. The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change shared the story to highlight the connection between humans and nature as part of the upcoming COP31 summit.

COP31 is scheduled to take place in Antalya, Turkey, from November 9-20, where 197 countries will gather to update their roadmaps for combating climate change. Minister Murat Kurum, who is managing the process, described the summit as an ‘Implementation COP’ aimed at turning climate commitments into action.