Mücahithan Avcıoğlu
October 21, 2025•Update: October 22, 2025
- Experts, sector representatives discuss ways to innovate firefighting, fire management
- 'If everyone and every organization, especially the world's foresters, does their part, it is possible to combat climate change and eliminate its negative consequences,' says Turkish forestry director
ISTANBUL
Istanbul Forest Innovation Week (IFIW), which brings together scientists, experts and industry representatives from around the world, held panels and discussions Tuesday on advanced firefighting technologies, fire management and awareness.
The conference is being organized by the Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Ministry's General Directorate of Forestry in cooperation with the UN Forest Forum (UNFF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It will be an important platform to shape the future of global forestry policies. Anadolu is the global communication partner of Istanbul Forest Innovation Week 2025.
The meeting, which began Monday, will last five days with the participation of 75 countries, 30 international organizations and more than 400 expert representatives.
Turkish Forestry Director Bekir Karacabey said discussions were held on various thematic areas for two days. "I believe that the decisions taken will make significant contributions to forestry in our country, as well as to foresters worldwide, as long as they do not remain on paper," he said.
Karacabey emphasized that although the negative consequences of climate change are becoming more apparent, not everything has been done to combat it.
"If everyone and every organization, especially the world's foresters, does their part, it is possible to combat climate change and eliminate its negative consequences," he added.
David J. Ganz, director of the Bangkok-based RECOFTC and a natural resources expert, emphasized the importance of community-focused developments and technological advancements in forest fires. "The vast majority of fires are caused by humans, and they must be resolved by humans," said Ganz.
He discussed RECOFTC’s work in Southeast Asian countries to implement preventative fire planning and raise awareness. Sean Tripplet, an expert in forest fire operations, aviation support, resource tracking and remote sensing, and a representative of the Earth Fire Alliance, provided information on monitoring forest fires with satellite tracking systems.
Ozgur Martin, a mathematics professor at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, stated that the school is working with the General Directorate of Forestry through Koc Digital, and an AI project has been initiated.
Mustafa Kilinc, Havelsan's Civil Aviation’s training systems program manager, stated that by using a simulator for forest firefighting, the company was able to easily experience costly and often daunting real-life experiences.
Kilinc pointed out that the simulator's most significant advantage is that it provides an environment where learning from mistakes is encouraged, and enables the widespread use of simulators.
