A total of 550 saplings were planted in a ceremony held at Afyon Kocatepe University ANS Campus. These saplings belonged to 7 different tree species.
Afyon Kocatepe University Rector Prof. attended the ceremony. Dr. Mehmet Karakaş, Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Şuayip Özdemir and Prof. Dr. Murat Peker, Afyonkarahisar Youth and Sports Provincial Director İsmail Hakkı Kasapoğlu, General Secretary İhsan Ceran, faculty deans, college principals, academic and administrative staff and students attended.
It was stated that more trees were planted to replace the trees in AKÜ ANS Campus.
In his speech, Rector Karakaş said that 22-23 years have passed since AKÜ moved to the ANS Campus and during this period, saplings were planted at least twice a year to green the campus. However, the campus does not have suitable soil for afforestation and many saplings are damaged by diseases etc. He stated that for some reason it dried out and could not hold on. Karakaş thanked the personnel of the Construction Works and Technical Department for the survival of the trees under these difficult conditions.
Rector Karakaş emphasized that they see their duty to protect nature and increase green areas as a priority and stated that a living and healthy nature is the most valuable legacy to be left to future generations. Therefore, he stated that by planting saplings, they ensure environmental awareness and cultural transfer.
Explaining that some trees on the campus were affected due to the AFRAY Project, Karakaş said that a total of 217 trees were affected along the train line and 134 of them were transferred to new living spaces, and 84 trees had to be cut down. He stated that the project contractor company donated 550 saplings to replace the cut trees.
Rector Karakaş said that these saplings belong to ash tree, sugar maple, ornamental apple, oleaster, ornamental plum, weeping willow, marshmallow tree and plane-leaved maple species, and stated that these saplings will raise hopes, joy of life and strengthen the feelings of unity and solidarity.
After the speech, a sapling planting event was held.