Retired Forest Management Chief Plants 30 Million Saplings and Creates Forest on Infertile Land

78-year-old retired forest management chief Hikmet Kaya has proved that good intentions and hard work can yield big rewards. And he has posed proudly in front of the barren land that he and his team have transformed into a lush forest. He began his career in the town of Sinop in 1978 and while he retired 19 years later, his legacy has continued to grow—literally.

We succeeded in this work by working together with my team and the villagers very well. After many years, we have ensured that our district has more forest assets compared to those days. This is a very nice feeling." It's a wonderful example to set for the rest of the country. According to Global Forest Watch, Turkey has seen a 5.4% decrease in tree cover since 2000. Deforestation was the overriding cause of much of this decrease, so contributing to its reversal is critical. Combatting deforestation often comes down to governmental policy changes, which makes it important for individuals to know who they are voting for and to make sure their environmental concerns are heard.