Hayrettin Karaca: Turkey's 'forest hero'

The co-founder and honorary president of one of Turkey's foremost non-profit environmental organizations, Hayrettin Karaca -- or as he was known, Grandpa Earth -- died on Jan. 20 at the age of 97.

Taking to Twitter to express the group's sadness, the Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats (TEMA) said: "We are deeply sorry for the loss of our Founding Honorary President and our Grandfather, Mr. Hayrettin Karaca."

Karaca was a scientist and one of Turkey's most influential environmentalists. He was born on April 4, 1920, in the northwestern Balıkesir province near the Marmara Sea coast.

After graduating from high school in Istanbul, he took the helm of his family's apparel business, making it one of the country's most successful industrial enterprises.

Despite his success, he was more interested in literature and nature than in business.

In his later years, Karaca handed down the company to his son and began his frequent visits to Anatolia, taking photographs of the trees and plant patterns.

In his 50s, he launched Turkey's very first private arboretum in northwestern Yalova province, which quickly picked up a global following among botanists. He collected a myriad of seeds for the arboretum both in Turkey and abroad, visiting botanical gardens and widening his circle of nature enthusiasts.

The garden is also home to some 14,000 species and serves as conservation for endangered species.

Karaca's passion for planting saplings and for wildlife drove him to launch the TEMA Foundation in 1992.

Since its foundation 28 years ago, TEMA has been the country's leading environmental advocacy group, reaching nearly 500,000...