The destruction of Turkey’s flora and fauna.

As we have witnessed this week, the whole southern European Coast is suffering at the hands of wildfires. Today, Turkey is experiencing horrific conflagrations, which has declared Turkey in a state of emergency. These wildfires are one of the most cataclysmic and harmful events that the nation has suffered in many years.

The Humanitarian Operations team supports and sympathises with the people of Turkey who are deeply suffering at this time. Turkey is the homeland to multiple unique species who are endemic to Turkey. These species are being wiped out by the destruction of the wildfires, as it is completely destroying their habitats. These wildfires are rapidly spreading throughout the nation; around 140 places in more than thirty provinces have been affected by fires in the last week.

As Anatolia, otherwise known as the Turkish Peninsula, is the motherland of a huge array of different species, wildfires are causing crucial damage to Turkey’s fauna. For example, the red deer — which migrated from the foothills of the Taurus Mountains and located itself in the highland forest between Antalya and Adana — have been devastatingly affected by extremely high temperatures, the destruction of their natural habitat, shortage of food, and dusty air. Another animal which finds itself in hard bestead is the pheasant, which originates from Samsun on Turkey’s Black Sea coast.

Turkey is one of the most important bird migration routes in the world. The total number of migratory and local bird species stand (or fly) at around 456 today. Besides the diversity of species, this country is also an important habitat for breeding birds like the northern bald ibis, white headed duck, blue cheeked bee eater, spur winged plover and black francolin that are under the threat of extinction. Due to the apogee of wildfires taking place in Anatolia today, all of these species are at high risk of extinction.

The Worldwide Fund for Nature has started a unique campaign in order to provide assistance to Turkey and raise emergency funds to help to build a sustainable rescue and rehabilitation capacity.

Written by: Vasylisa Bondarenko

Edited by: Amber Howells