100,000 Olive Saplings Project Launched in the TRNC

The Cyprus Foundations Administration has launched the "100,000 Olive Sapling Planting Project" with the aim of protecting nature, raising environmental awareness, and leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.

The project, carried out in cooperation with the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Turkish General Directorate of Foundations, the Turkish Religious Affairs Foundation, Turkish Airlines, ÇEKUD, KİM Foundation, Cyprus Foundation, and Kopuzlar Foundation, saw the first olive saplings planted in Esentepe during a ceremony.

The ceremony began with a minute of silence and the recitation of the Turkish National Anthem.

"Each Sapling is a Token of Gratitude to Our Martyrs"

Speaking at the ceremony, the General Director of the Cyprus Foundations Administration, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Tümer, thanked all the institutions, associations, and foundations that contributed to the realization of the project, especially the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Turkish General Directorate of Foundations.

Remembering with mercy, gratitude, and appreciation the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the existence and freedom of the Turkish Cypriot people, Tümer stated that each sapling planted today is a token of loyalty to the martyrs who made this land their homeland.

Recalling that the olive tree is a sacred tree symbolizing peace, abundance, hope, and divine mercy in Abrahamic religions such as Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, Tümer emphasized that the olive tree is a symbol of peace, resilience, and continuity in this region.

Stating that the saplings that will flourish within the scope of the project will be a strong indicator of a green legacy and environmental awareness in the TRNC, Tümer announced that an arboretum project will also be implemented in the area where the saplings were planted in cooperation with Çatalköy Municipality.

Strong Support from Institutions

Speaking on behalf of the General Directorate of Foundations of the Republic of Turkey, Arif Özsoy, the Istanbul Regional Director of Foundations, stated that the 100,000 olive sapling project in the TRNC is an important beginning and thanked all stakeholders who contributed to the project.

Prof. Dr. Ali Deniz, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of ÇEKUD, emphasized that planting saplings is not only a technical undertaking but also a moral responsibility towards future generations. He stated that in the first phase of the project, 50,000 saplings will be planted by the end of 2026.

Speaking on behalf of the Turkish Religious Affairs Foundation, Hatice Kahyaoğlu expressed her pleasure in contributing to the planting of 100,000 olive saplings in the TRNC within the scope of the "One Good Deed, One Sapling" project.

Pınar Ayvaz Arıkan, TRNC Country Manager of Turkish Airlines, said that the project is a concrete demonstration of Turkish Airlines' sustainability vision and respect for the environment.

First Arboretum in the TRNC

Çatalköy Esentepe Mayor Ceyhun Kırok stated that a comprehensive arboretum project, the first of its kind in the TRNC, will be implemented in the area where saplings were planted, in cooperation with the Foundations Administration.

Visits to Martyrdom Sites and Historical Sites

Following the speeches, thank-you plaques were presented to those who contributed to the organization, and olive saplings were planted.

After the sapling planting, the delegation visited the Murat Ağa – Sandallar Martyrdom Site, the Atlılar Martyrdom Site, and the Bilal Ağa Mosque in Kapalı Maraş,

and prayers were recited for the martyrs.