A Tweet That Sparked A Movement
On a crisp November morning in 2019, the skies above Ankara held more than the usual grey drizzle of late autumn—they held the promise of a green transformation.
At precisely 11:11 a.m. on Monday, 11 November, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan planted the first sapling of what he declared would become an annual national ritual. “From now on our citizens will be on the field to plant saplings at 11:11 every Nov. 11,” he said.
In mid-2019, the idea that would soon sweep across Turkey began modestly on social media. A young citizen, Enes Şahin, shared a message encouraging the creation of a dedicated day for nationwide tree planting.
His post envisioned millions of people uniting to plant saplings across the country, setting an example for the world and ensuring future generations would inherit a greener homeland.
What started as a heartfelt online suggestion quickly captured national attention and ignited a movement that transformed a simple wish into an enduring environmental tradition.
That message—posted from an account with only a few hundred followers—soon went viral, drawing more than 55,000 responses. It caught the attention of the youngest elected deputy in Turkey, Rumeysa Kadak, who replied enthusiastically.
Within hours, President Erdoğan himself responded, promising to take the idea forward and make a national tree-planting day a reality. A grassroots spark had suddenly turned into a nationwide commitment.
From Tweet To National Campaign
By early November, the Turkish government had published an official presidential circular declaring 11 November as National Forestation Day (Milli Ağaçlandırma Günü), to be marked with synchronized tree-planting events across all 81 provinces. The Orman Genel Müdürlüğü (General Directorate of Forestry) outlined the twin goals—expanding forest cover and nurturing a green legacy for future generations.
On 11 November, under the campaign slogan “Geleceğe Nefes” (“Breath for the Future”), volunteers across Turkey planted more than 13.7 million saplings at over 5,000 sites, exceeding the initial target of 11 million. At one site in the province of Çorum, over 300,000 saplings were planted within an hour, earning attention as a potential Guinness World Record.
Why It Matters
Turkey’s forest area had already grown steadily over previous decades, expanding from about 20.8 million hectares to over 22 million. Yet this campaign wasn’t only about numbers—it was about public participation.
From schoolchildren to retirees, from civil servants to university students, millions took part in planting young trees, symbolizing unity and shared responsibility.
For Enes Şahin, the inspiration came from observing how holidays bring people together for a collective purpose. He imagined a similar day of action for nature—one where people would plant and water saplings across the country.
In İzmir, which had recently suffered devastating wildfires, more than a million saplings were planted by volunteers eager to restore green cover and hope.
The initiative’s power lies in its simplicity: one citizen’s tweet, amplified by millions, transformed into a movement backed by the nation. It demonstrated how digital connectivity can bridge ordinary voices and state action for a common good.
The Challenges And Lessons
Yet, as with many large-scale projects, challenges soon followed. Reports later suggested that up to 90 percent of the saplings might not have survived due to poor rainfall and inadequate post-planting care. Environmental experts stressed that while planting trees is vital, ensuring their long-term survival through proper maintenance and local ecological planning is equally crucial.
These concerns highlighted an essential truth: meaningful reforestation requires not just enthusiasm but sustained stewardship. Still, the campaign sparked national dialogue on environmental responsibility, urban greening, and the value of ecological awareness.
A Day Of Hope And Action
Visualize thousands of volunteers in jackets and gloves, pressing saplings into the damp soil, their laughter echoing across once-barren hillsides. Each hole dug, each seedling planted, became a small declaration of faith in the planet’s renewal.
Even if only a portion of those saplings thrive, the message endures—collective action matters. The initiative transformed environmental concern into an act of hope, proving that when people act together, even the simplest idea can take root on a national scale.
Looking Ahead
Since 2019, Turkey has continued to mark 11 November as National Forestation Day, with evolving campaigns such as “Türkiye Yüzyılına Nefes” (“Breath for the Century of Turkey”). The focus has gradually shifted toward improving the survival rate of saplings, expanding maintenance programs, and educating communities about long-term care.
Ultimately, the story is more than a tale of tree planting—it’s about a nation rediscovering its connection to the earth. When citizens gather each year to press roots into the ground, they’re also planting something intangible: shared hope, unity, and belief in renewal.
And beneath the branches of each young tree that grows, there remains a quiet legacy of one tweet that changed the landscape of a nation—literally and symbolically.
