National Afforestation Day is a day celebrated annually in Türkiye on November 11, during which simultaneous sapling planting activities are carried out nationwide. Proclaimed by the Presidential Circular No. 2019/24 on November 6, 2019, this day is organized to protect forest resources, manage them sustainably, and leave a healthy environment for future generations. The activities are conducted under the coordination of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the General Directorate of Forestry, involving public institutions, civil society organizations, and citizens.

Purpose and Significance

The main purpose of National Afforestation Day is to increase Türkiye’s forest resources, ensure erosion control, enhance biodiversity, and protect environmental values. The day also serves as a means to promote a love for trees and forests within society, raise environmental awareness, and provide citizens with opportunities to connect with nature.

Each year, at 11.11 AM on November 11, millions of saplings are planted simultaneously across the country as part of this event. The activities are significant not only for expanding green coverage in public spaces but also for supporting the feeding of wild animals, promoting honey production, and creating recreational areas that allow all segments of society to access and enjoy green spaces.

^{Sapling Planting (Anadolu Ajansı)}

History and Development Process

Between 2008 and 2012, Türkiye implemented the “Afforestation Campaign”, conducting efforts to develop and expand forests over 2,429,000 hectares, an area roughly equivalent to the size of Thrace, during which 2 billion saplings were planted. As a continuation of these efforts, in 2019, the “Breath for the Future” (Geleceğe Nefes) afforestation project was launched to reforest areas damaged by the increasing number of forest fires in recent years and to foster a love of forests within society. The first events in 2019 were carried out simultaneously across 81 provinces, with 13,791,435 saplings planted at 5,223 different locations. The sapling species included coniferous and deciduous types such as spruce, cedar, black pine, Turkish pine, stone pine, birch, walnut, almond, mulberry, wild pear, rosehip, lavender, and ash, as well as fruit-bearing species providing food for wildlife.^【1】 

In 2020, the project gained an international dimension and was implemented under the name “Breath for the Future, Breath for the World”. Saplings were planted at 1,052 different locations covering 5,230 hectares, totaling 4,446,803 saplings, with representatives from over 50 countries participating, and approximately 50,000 saplings planted across 28 countries. In 2021, the main events took place on the Atatürk Forest Farm lands in Ankara, with about 5.2 million saplings planted across 81 provinces, 300,000 participants, and a total of 252 million saplings planted nationwide by the end of the year.^【2】 

In 2022, in commemoration of Türkiye’s second century, the project was implemented under the motto “Breath for the Century of Türkiye”, with approximately 4.2 million saplings planted at 1,023 locations across 81 provinces and 922 districts, and leaders of the Turkish World States participating via live connection. In 2023, as part of the 100th anniversary of the Republic, the project continued under the motto “Breath for the Future, Breath for the Republic”, with 5,002,023 saplings planted simultaneously across 81 provinces and 2,023 locations designated as “Republic Forests”. In the 2025 events, sapling planting areas were determined in different cities, allowing participants to select their event locations via maps and lists.^【3】 

^{Sapling Planting (Anadolu Ajansı)}

Guinness World Records

The afforestation activities carried out within the scope of National Afforestation Day have increased Türkiye’s international recognition. In 2019, at the Çorum-Celilkırı site, 303,150 saplings were planted within one hour by 3,000 participants across 150 hectares. This event was officially certified by Guinness World Records as the “Most Trees Planted in One Hour by a Team at a Single Location, Unlimited Number of Participants”.

In 2020, in Çubuk district, Ankara, 452,023 saplings were planted over an area of 21,826 m², forming the “Largest Tree Pattern in the World”, which was also recognized as a Guinness World Record. In 2022, a digital photo album comprising 383,783 participants’ photos uploaded during the sapling planting events was certified by Guinness on March 21, 2022 as the “World’s Largest Digital Photo Album”. These records have contributed to the international recognition of Türkiye’s afforestation efforts.^【4】 

Project Goals and Social Impacts

National Afforestation Day and the Breath for the Future projects aim not only to increase forest cover nationwide but also to raise environmental awareness, foster a love for trees and forests, cultivate environmentally conscious generations, and encourage participation in nature across different age groups. The saplings planted within the scope of the project help protect soil, prevent erosion, enhance green cover, and create recreational areas, while also providing social and economic benefits, such as contributing to the feeding needs of wild animals, supporting honey production, and utilizing income-generating sapling species.

Themes

The activities of National Afforestation Day have been conducted under varying themes and mottos each year. In 2019, the theme was “Breath for the Future”; in 2020, “Breath for the Future, Breath for the World”; in 2021, “Breath for the World”; in 2022, “Breath for the Century of Türkiye”; in 2023, “Breath for the Future, Breath for the Republic”; and in 2025, “A Breath for the Future, A Breath for Humanity”. These themes highlight both the national and international scope of the events and emphasize the goal of fostering environmental consciousness within society.

Participation and Organization

The activities are organized under the coordination of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the General Directorate of Forestry, with participation from public institutions, civil society organizations, and citizens. Participants can engage in sapling adoption and donation processes through online platforms. This process plays an important role in the organization of the events and in raising awareness among citizens.

^{Sapling Planting (Anadolu Ajansı)}

Awards and Recognition

The National Afforestation Day and Breath for the Future projects have received various national and international awards. At the national level, they have been recognized among the best social responsibility projects, and internationally, the General Directorate of Forestry was honored with the “Institutional Achievement Award” by the Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly. The projects have served as an important platform to highlight Türkiye’s environmental efforts and to demonstrate exemplary practices both nationwide and globally.^【5】