It hurts..
people are dying, hearths are going out...
squirrels, rabbits, birds are helpless; gazelles, butterflies, bees, and so many others too...
thousands are dying...
trees are scorching, forests are burning, it hurts!
We have multiplied too much, consumed too much, industrialized even more in order to consume still more. The price of “more” is paid everywhere, at every moment.
Already under pressure from all of this, our most precious natural areas — the forests — now also have to contend with fires on top of everything else. For the sake of our one and only planet and our country, we have to contend with this too.
Joining Forces Against Turkey's Fire Disasters
Forest fires, which have been increasing in Turkey in recent years, are not only burning our lungs but also inflicting great damage on our future. We all feel deep sorrow in the face of these disasters. So, will we merely watch, or can we take on an active role in this matter? This is exactly where the power of brands comes into play. In the fight against fires, rather than brands limiting themselves to donating to reforestation efforts or carrying out afforestation work after the fact, focusing on fire-prevention work will offer a far more sustainable and effective solution. Let's take a look together at what is being done in this field, both in our country and around the world, and talk about how brands can make a difference in this process.
Global and Local Efforts to Build Fire Awareness
The fight against forest fires is not only our problem, but a shared problem for the whole world. Significant awareness campaigns and projects are being carried out on this issue in various countries.
In our country, the General Directorate of Forestry (OGM), affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, has been taking important steps in recent years to raise public awareness of fires. Public participation is encouraged through projects such as the “Green Homeland” Short Film Competition and the “Orman Benim” (“The Forest Is Mine”) campaign. The Ministry of National Education, through its “Disaster Awareness” course, also instills awareness from an early age by teaching students basic information such as the causes of fires and what to do during and after a fire.
One of the longest-running campaigns in this field is Smokey Bear in the United States. Through coloring books, storytelling activities, and the “Junior Forest Ranger” program aimed especially at children, Smokey Bear aims to instill forest protection awareness in new generations.
The Australia-based Bushfire Kids Connect platform, meanwhile, aims to help children cope with the emotional trauma that can arise after fires. Through story therapy and support groups, this platform teaches children safe evacuation routes during a fire while also building their emotional resilience.
Detecting Fires Early Through the Power of Technology
Preventing fires is not only about education and support programs; technology also plays a major role. The Canada-based clothing brand Tentree has done groundbreaking work with its “Following Wildfire” project. By scanning fire images shared on social media using artificial intelligence, they have developed an early warning system. This makes it possible to detect fires much earlier and respond quickly.
The Fire-Prevention Mission of Brands: What Difference Can We Make?
These successful examples from around the world can also inspire brands in Turkey. So what role can our own brands take on in this area?
A system similar to Tentree's project could be developed using the mobile phones of people living in forested regions in our country. At this point, major technology companies and telecom operators could be important supporters, drawing on their expertise. Thanks to early warning systems, even the smallest wisp of smoke could be noticed before it grows, potentially saving thousands of hectares of forest.
Companies operating in regions at risk of forest fires can directly support awareness and education efforts aimed at local communities, and especially at children. This would not only be a corporate social responsibility project, but also the most humane way of building a bond with the community in that region.
Digital content or mobile applications developed especially for children and young people could create a major impact. By harnessing the power of social media, entertaining yet informative campaigns run through TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts could capture public attention. Raising fire awareness through content that speaks young people's language and captures their attention would be one of the most important investments in the future.
Communication and digital agencies, too, as part of their social responsibility, can develop creative and informative projects aimed at raising awareness together with public institutions. Their expertise in campaign strategy, visual design, and distribution would make efforts in this field far more effective.
Let's Protect Our Future Together
To prevent disasters like forest fires, we must all act together in solidarity. Beyond simply selling products, brands taking on a social mission and actively participating in efforts to prevent these disasters will be the most valuable legacy we can leave to both the environment and future generations. Let us not forget that by preventing these disasters, we also protect our forests — our future. Do you think brands should play a more active role in this fight?
Fadile Paksoy
This article was published in the August–September 2025 issue of Brandmap Magazine.
