We fully support TEMA’s mission to protect nature.
A country’s future is reflected in the way it treats its soil. The land on which we produce, build and live is a shared inheritance, carrying responsibilities towards the generations who follow us. TEMA Foundation’s contribution to Türkiye is to bring that responsibility into everyday life and public decision-making.
A shared legacy from two founders
Hayrettin Karaca and A. Nihat Gökyiğit established TEMA Foundation together in 1992. Karaca, affectionately known in Türkiye as “Toprak Dede”, or Grandpa Earth, turned his love of nature into a public effort to explain the threat of erosion. Gökyiğit, remembered as “Yaprak Dede”, or Grandpa Leaf, helped pioneer conservation and rural development initiatives. Together, they offered a lasting example of environmental responsibility sustained over time. [1]
Understanding their legacy means more than respecting past achievements. It means making the future of a tree, a field or a water source part of the decisions we take today. Karaca’s close connection with nature reminds us that environmental awareness grows through care for the places we inhabit, as well as through research and reports.
Protecting the foundations of life
TEMA is the Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats. Its stated aims encompass the protection of soil, water, forests and biodiversity; action on erosion and desertification; and work on environmental policy and public awareness. [2]
From IBL’s perspective, these concerns belong within economic thinking. An investment’s value cannot be understood solely through the income it generates today. How it uses resources, how it relates to its surroundings and what conditions it leaves for the future should also inform the decision.
The relationship a child builds with nature
TEMA’s nature education programmes include Minik TEMA, Yavru TEMA, Ortaokul TEMA and Lise TEMA. These programmes address different age groups, providing a structure through which environmental awareness can be explored across stages of education. [3]
The value of nature education lies in connecting knowledge with lived surroundings. Learning to recognise a tree, becoming curious about soil or developing care in the use of water can provide a starting point for decisions later in life. When businesses value these efforts, they recognise that their own future will also be shaped by informed generations.
A future that respects rural life
TEMA’s approach to rural development highlights the relationship between sustainable soil and land management and rural livelihoods. It presents its projects in this field as practical examples that consider the protection of natural assets alongside the continuity of production. [4]
For us, the central lesson is that environmental responsibility should also take account of local lives and livelihoods. Creating lasting value in a region requires an understanding of its people, its production traditions and its natural conditions. Economic assessment becomes more meaningful when it makes those relationships visible.
IBL Finance expresses its full support
IBL Finance fully supports TEMA Foundation’s mission to protect soil, natural assets and the living conditions of future generations. We hold the sense of responsibility demonstrated by Hayrettin Karaca and A. Nihat Gökyiğit in deep respect and believe it deserves to reach a wider audience.
Through this publication, we bring attention to TEMA’s work and encourage our readers to deepen their environmental awareness and seek information through the Foundation’s official channels. Our support is expressed through a clear commitment to the importance of nature conservation and a stronger sense of shared responsibility.
Our financial perspective reminds us of the importance of thinking over the long term. Protecting nature also calls for patience, consistency and care. Responsibility towards the future gains substance through decisions that reinforce one another over time.
A legacy to which everyone can contribute
Readers who wish to learn more can explore TEMA’s activities and find information about volunteering and support options on its official website. Informed participation begins with reliable information and a form of contribution that each of us can sustain within our circumstances.
One of a founder’s most powerful legacies is the ability to inspire others to take responsibility. Honouring Grandpa Earth and Grandpa Leaf means carrying that responsibility into the care we show for our shared future. At IBL Finance, we believe that protecting the soil is an investment in the future we all share.
Sources
- TEMA — Kurucu Onursal Başkanlarımız ↗
- TEMA — Varoluş Nedenimiz ↗
- TEMA — Doğa Eğitim Programları ↗
- TEMA — Kırsal Kalkınma Çalışmaları ↗
This article is an independent expression of support and awareness by IBL Finance for TEMA’s mission; it is not an announcement of official sponsorship, partnership or a completed donation.