The visit of the Turkish president is a result of productive cooperation between KKL-JNF and the Turkish government in research and development related to environmental issues. Over the years, many collaborations have taken place with the goal of mutual exchanges of knowledge by means of supplementary courses for delegations of experts from both countries and learning new methods that will help create plans for restoration and development. At the present time, the largest professional collaboration is within the fields of afforestation and land conservation.
Friendly ties between KKL-JNF and Turkey had already began during the 1960’s, when KKL-JNF, as a gesture to Attaturk, founder of modern Turkey, dedicated the “Attaturk Forest” in the southern region of the Carmel to him. The reason for planting a forest named for Attaturk was his great love of nature and open spaces, as expressed in his famous saying: “Invent a new religion for me – a religion of trees, whose prayers will be the planting of trees.”