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Entry into Istanbul forests banned due to wildfire risk
๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท Turkey /Disasters & Emergencies

Entry into Istanbul forests banned due to wildfire risk

From Cumhuriyet · () Turkish

Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Istanbul has banned entry into forests and all fire-related activities from June 8 to October 15, 2026, due to increased wildfire risk.
  • The ban applies to all forested areas across the city, with specific exceptions for certain picnic areas.
  • This measure is in line with forest and provincial administration laws to prevent fires during the summer season.

Istanbul's Provincial Governorship has implemented a ban on entering forest areas and engaging in any fire-related activities. This decision, effective from June 8 to October 15, 2026, aims to mitigate the heightened risk of forest fires during the summer months.

The ban, enacted under articles of the Forest Law and Provincial Administration Law, restricts access to all forested regions within the city. This measure is a proactive step to prevent potential wildfires that often increase with rising temperatures and dry conditions.

Picnicking and lighting fires in forest areas are also prohibited during the same period. However, specific picnic areas managed by the Regional Directorate have been exempted from this ban. These include several nature parks such as Polonezkรถy Tabiat Park, TรผrkmenbaลŸฤฑ Tabiat Park, and Parkorman Tabiat Park, among others listed by the Istanbul Forest Regional Directorate.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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