Regulation on deforestation in Turkey introduces new concerns

The regulation on the construction in forested areas has changed. If there is a “public interest” and a “necessity”, the forests will be opened for construction without charging a price. According to experts, this change will destroy forests.

The regulation on the construction of woodlands has changed. The regulation published in the Official Gazette yesterday opened the way for building in forested areas. According to the new regulation, if the public interest and necessity are shown, power plants as well as religious education facilities and places of worship will now be able to be built in forests. Moreover, the state will not receive operating fees from these structures.

An expert in “Forestry Policy” has made the following statement in regards:

“During the AK Party rule, the forests (many) were transformed into land with the amendments made to both the Forest Code No. 6831 and the relevant regulations. With this practice the opportunity for RANT economy was opened. 748 thousand hectares of forest ecosystem actually disappeared although they appear to be official forest on paper. Unfortunately, these two new regulations published today are the continuation of these practices. Such regulations are regulations open to all kinds of interpretations.”