Guardians of the Forests are on duty

Gendarmerie teams descending into the field in Aydın within the framework of measures to prevent forest fires are conducting inspections from the air, land, and sea, making the Dilek Peninsula National Park inoperable.

In order to protect the forests in the province, primarily the Dilek Peninsula National Park, which is the last refuge of wildlife, and to prevent forest fires, preventive measures have been taken. Acting within this framework, the Aydın Provincial Gendarmerie Command Environmental Nature and Wildlife Protection Team, with the motto ‘Gendarmerie is everywhere’, conducted aerial inspections using helicopters belonging to the Gendarmerie Fleet Command, maritime inspections using Coast Guard Command boats, as well as reconnaissance and field scanning in dense forest areas with gendarmerie mounted units on the coast, motorized patrols, and motorized team units in forested areas throughout the city, especially in areas with high human density such as Icmeler, Aydinlik, and Karasu bays, as well as Kalamaki Beach and Kavaklıburun regions. Inspections were carried out at beach entrances and exits and in forested areas. Gendarmerie commando teams are conducting inspections in forest areas where there are no people to prevent potential fires. At the entrance of the National Park, gendarmerie teams warn holidaymakers not to make fires and distribute brochures, also informing citizens who swim in the bays, especially about fires and cautioning them not to throw glass bottles on the ground. With the motto ‘Let’s not let the glass harm us’, the collection and removal of glass waste, which is the number one factor in forest fires, is ensured.

“211 hours of flight were conducted this year”

The Aydın Gendarmerie Fleet Command, which continues aerial support flights for public order, security, traffic, tracking of human trafficking, as well as natural disasters and forest fires in 16 provinces within its area of responsibility, intervened in fires from the air in both day and night conditions with MI-17, Sikorsky T-70, S-70 helicopters with water bucket and T-70 helicopters with Helitak apparatus mounted on the fuselage. The Fleet Command helicopters intervened in 65 fires that broke out in 16 provinces this year. Pilots flying a total of 211 hours and 45 minutes dropped 1,966 tons of water onto the fires with 983 drops. In addition, this year, with reconnaissance flights conducted with cayrokopters and UAVs, 4 arsonists were identified and captured.

“We feel safe”

Abdülmelik Avcı, a visitor to the National Park on vacation, thanked the gendarmerie teams, saying, “Aydın is a hot region. With the warming weather, our gendarmerie takes all kinds of precautions against potential fires. They patrol these areas. A safe environment is provided. Our gendarmerie takes all kinds of precautions here.” Ümmü Gülsüm Albayrak, a visitor who came to the National Park for a picnic with her family, said, “We came here for a picnic with our family. Gendarmerie teams are constantly patrolling here. We feel safe. We thank them very much for being here.”