The AKDENİZ-PA Award, given to projects contributing to peace and prosperity in the Europe-Mediterranean and Gulf regions, was presented to its recipients at a ceremony held in the city of Braga, Portugal. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Yumaklı expressed his gratitude on social media for the recognition of the “Geleceğe Nefes” (Breath to the Future) campaign, which aims to plant millions of trees and leave a greener world for future generations. The campaign received the award from the Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (AKDENİZ-PA), transcending national borders in its efforts.
According to a statement from the Ministry, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Abdulkadir Polat accepted the award from PAM Secretary-General Sergio Piazzi at the ceremony. In his speech, Polat highlighted the Assembly’s dedication to unity, peace, and development for all residents of the region, expressing pride in Turkey’s role as part of the region and the union. He emphasized the importance of afforestation efforts in combating climate change, desertification, and land degradation, noting that Turkey recognized the significance of reforestation in addressing these critical issues.
Polat underscored the goal of raising awareness about afforestation among the public with the campaign, which was honored with the AKDENİZ-PA award. The initial objective of the “Geleceğe Nefes” campaign in December 2019 was to plant 11 million trees, and due to overwhelming public interest, over 14 million trees were planted in more than 5,000 locations in the first phase, breaking two Guinness World Records. The project expanded beyond the borders of Turkey, becoming an international initiative in 2020 under the name “Geleceğe Nefes Dünyaya Nefes,” planting numerous trees in 28 countries across three continents.
Polat noted the widespread support for the project among all Turkish citizens, mentioning that even during the pandemic, a significant number of trees were planted. He highlighted the celebration of the project during the Republic’s 100th year in 2023 with the motto “Geleceğe Nefes, Cumhuriyete Nefes” (Breath to the Future, Breath to the Republic), where 5 million trees were planted nationwide on November 11th. Recognizing the importance of the “Geleceğe Nefes Project” for the future, Polat expressed gratitude to the AKDENİZ-PA members for the prestigious award, indicating that it showed they were on the right track with their efforts.
