Ms. Diden Limgin, General Manager of TEMA Foundation

The concept of environment was first mentioned in world literature at the Stockholm Conference in 1972. However, the environmental and sustainability concepts we understand today stepped into our lives at the United Nations Environment and Sustainable Development Conference in 1992. Two distinguished businessmen of Turkey, Hayrettin Karaca, and A. Nihat Gokyigit, decided to have Turkey incorporate these concepts, which are still very new in the international arena, and apply them to protect Turkey’s natural environment. They aimed to build a grassroots movement and attached priority to the volunteers, who would be at the core of this fight. They started their journey for nature as the Founding Honorary Chairs of the TEMA Foundation, and in a short time, they became Grandpa Earth and Grandpa Leaf for all nature lovers.

The TEMA Foundation’s slogan, “Turkey Should Not Be Allowed to Become a Desert,” evoked a significant reaction from the public. It was the first time that the danger of desertification in our country was voiced loudly.

Today, in the 81 cities of Turkey, at least one forest has been formed by  TEMA Foundation donors. Since 1992, TEMA has planted 39.500.00 young trees in an area as big as approximately 46.000 thousand football fields. We also have planted 700 million acorns in an area as big as 22 thousand football fields.

Currently, the foundation is managed by a semiprofessional team of volunteers. The General Manager oversees the Foundation’s key activities.

This Post was submitted by the Climate Scorecard Turkey Country Manager Dr. Semih Ergur