Breathing Forest Air in the Heart of a Metropolis

Although Istanbul is one of the world's most crowded and dynamic cities, it faces serious challenges regarding air pollution due to its constantly growing population and increasing traffic density. However, Istanbul's green areas and forests play an important role in balancing this pollution and keeping the city clean. As a natural filter that improves air quality in the metropolis, Istanbul forests are vital ecosystems that allow the city to breathe.

Forests are nature's most powerful air purifiers. Large forest areas in Istanbul help clean the air by absorbing harmful gases and particles released into the atmosphere. They prevent the accumulation of components affecting global warming in the air, especially by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases. At the same time, forests produce oxygen and enhance the city's air quality with the oxygen they release into the environment. In addition to this air purification function, Istanbul's forests are also natural systems that prevent soil erosion and regulate the water cycle. Forests ensure that precipitation is retained in the soil, help raise groundwater levels, and thus also protect the city's water resources.

Furthermore, forests prevent these harmful substances from threatening human health by trapping particulate matter (like PM2.5). Especially large forest areas like Istanbul's Belgrad Forest, Çatalca Forests, and Polonezköy Nature Park are critically important in combating the air pollution generated by traffic and industrial activities in the city while performing these purification functions. These forests are indispensable for purifying the polluted air surrounding the city and helping people live in a cleaner environment. Spending time in Istanbul's forests not only offers the peace of nature but also provides a natural way to protect oneself from the polluted air in the metropolis. In this period where air pollution is increasing day by day, Istanbul forests play a vital role as green areas that give the city a "natural breath" and keep the environment clean.