Rodopi MP warns: “Rodopi cannot endure another disaster – Forest clearance is urgent”
In a formal written question submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Energy as well as the Ministry of Interior, MP Ferhat stressed that preventive measures are both urgent and essential. “The forested areas surrounding our villages must be cleared immediately – Rodopi cannot handle another disaster,” he stated.
Ferhat recalled the devastating wildfires of August 2023, emphasizing the crucial importance of preventive action before the summer heat sets in. He listed several villages — including Kalfa, Ircanhasar, Yabacikli, Payamdere, Hemetli, Mehrikoz, Sapes, Kizillar, Kalaycidere, Esekçili, Çepelli, Bekirli, Arabaciköy, and Yassiköy — where forests lie just a few meters from residential homes.
According to Ferhat, a lack of clearly defined responsibilities between authorities has led to inaction, putting both human lives and the environment at serious risk.
The MP posed the following key questions to the relevant ministries:
- What preventive measures has the Rodopi Forest Directorate implemented ahead of summer 2025?
- Have any clearing activities (such as tree thinning or removal of flammable shrubs) been carried out near settlements?
- In which specific areas and on what dates were these operations performed?
- Has there been a clear delineation of responsibilities between the Forest Directorate and local municipalities?
- Have coordinated firebreak zones been established in cooperation with the municipalities of Komotini, Kozlukebir, Maroneia-Sapes, and Yassiköy? If so, where and when?
Ferhat urged the government to take immediate and coordinated action, arguing that only proactive measures can prevent a repeat of past tragedies and protect both the population and the natural landscape of Rodopi.
