Turkey Enacts Stubble Burning Ban and Boosts Fire Prevention Efforts

In Diyarbakır, Governor Murat Zorluoğlu chaired a meeting with municipal, security and agricultural officials to combat "anız" (stubble) fires. The authorities approved a strict ban on stubble burning, issued decree 2026/2, and set administrative fines of 698.62 TL per hectare, escalating five‑fold to 3,495.10 TL when burning near settlements, forests or wetlands. Joint inspection teams from the gendarmerie, police and agriculture‑forestry directorates will operate 24 hours a day throughout the 2026 harvest season, with additional coordination meetings in the high‑risk districts of Çınar, Bismil, Silvan and Ergani.

Separately, İzmir hosted a panel titled “Safe City and Rural Life Against Fire Risks,” bringing together the city council, engineering chambers, AFAD and NGOs. Speakers warned that outdated electricity infrastructure, insufficient maintenance of high‑voltage lines, and climate‑change‑driven heat are amplifying forest‑fire danger. The forum called for systematic line inspections, accelerated grid upgrades and the integration of smart early‑warning systems. Participants noted that about 210 forest and shrubland areas burned in 2025, highlighting the urgency of preventive action.