Interaction between state forestry governance and wood production, afforestation, forest fires and crimes in Türkiye

Despite their significant role in forest governance, state forestry organizations – particularly in countries with predominantly state-owned forestlands – have received relatively limited scholarly attention. With 99% of its forests under state control, Türkiye presents a distinctive case for analysing how a centralized state forestry organization manages and delivers forest ecosystem services. This study provides an in-depth analysis, offering insights into the impact of state forestry governance on raw wood production, afforestation, forest fires and forest-related crimes. Forestry data spanning 1937 to 2023 were analysed and findings revealed that changes in the number of state Forest Enterprise Directorates (FEDs) and Forest Chiefdoms (FCs) significantly impacted Türkiye's raw wood production, afforestation area, number of forest fires, and forest-related crimes. An increase in the number of FEDs contributed to higher harvesting levels, expanded afforestation efforts and a reduction in forest crimes, although their impact on fire management remains unclear. The results suggest that the establishment of new FEDs and FCs should be based on economic analysis rather than administrative preferences. Expanding the number of FEDs appears to be more beneficial than creating new FCs in Türkiye. To enhance sustainability and efficiency in forest management, the General Directorate of Forestry (GDF) in Türkiye should develop a new policy to optimize the structure of state forestry organizations, including FEDs and FCs. Additionally, the GDF should establish a scientific and practical mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the optimal structure of these organizations in order to ensure sustainable and efficient forest management.