Laurel saplings met the soil

Izmir University of Economics (IUE) carried out a sapling planting event at its under-construction Güzelbahçe campus as part of an exemplary awareness initiative to emphasize the importance of soil for a healthy future. Under the theme ‘There Is No Life without Soil’, students and academics picked up their shovels, planting laurel saplings together and giving life back to nature. IUE Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Efe Biresselioğlu noted that the value of soil has once again become evident due to the recent wave of forest fires and the drought affecting the globe, saying, “Soil is the source of life, the carrier of ecosystems, and the foundation of our sustainable future.”

The sapling planting event, organized by Izmir University of Economics in honor of World Soil Day on December 5, offered colorful scenes. The gathering, held at the Güzelbahçe campus, whose first phase is scheduled for completion in July 2026, was attended by a 30-person group of students and faculty members, as well as IUE Board of Trustees Member Ayhan Sulak. Organized in collaboration with the IUE Office of Sustainability and the Healthy Campus Committee, the event brought young people together to plant laurel saplings, sending a strong message for the future.

“A BREATH, HOPE, AND A LEGACY FOR THE FUTURE”

IUE Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Efe Biresselioğlu stated that the University’s responsibilities toward the future extend beyond education and science. Explaining that the sapling planting event marked a concrete step toward a sustainable future together with students, Prof. Dr. Biresselioğlu said: “Global climate change has become one of the greatest threats facing our world. Rising temperatures, forest fires, and food crises once again highlight how critical soil health is. We deliberately adopted the theme ‘There Is No Life without Soil’ because protecting the soil ultimately means protecting life. It should not be forgotten that soil provides a habitat for more than half of all species on Earth. Over 90% of our food also comes from the soil. Every sapling we plant today is a breath, a hope, and a legacy we will leave for our future.”

“WE WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD”

Prof. Dr. Aslı Ceylan Öner, IUE Vice Rector, stated that the ongoing construction of the Güzelbahçe campus stands out with its environmentally friendly features and that planting saplings there carries special significance. Prof. Dr. Öner said, “Clean energy technologies will be used on our new campus, which we designed to suit the climate conditions of the Aegean region, and buildings will have optimized energy performance. In addition, transportation within the campus will be provided by electric vehicles. The Güzelbahçe campus will serve as a model with its eco-friendly characteristics. By coming together to protect and sustain the soil during the sapling planting event, we demonstrated our University’s strong sense of social awareness and environmental responsibility. As a University, we will continue to lead environmentally conscious projects and work toward leaving a more livable world for future generations.”