The plunder law is counting down the days
The government's proposed law that will make it easier for mining companies to plunder forests and olive groves is coming to the Turkish Grand National Assembly this week. The proposed law, which will allow olive groves to be opened to mining activities and to start incentive, approval, permit and license processes for mining and energy projects without waiting for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) decision, will be discussed in the Turkish Grand National Assembly this week, despite all the reactions.
'WE WILL NOT BE BURIED IN THE MINE'
While the government argues that the 'super permit' mechanism has paved the way for investments in critical and strategic mines, many environmental organizations, including TEMA, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF-Turkey) and the Nature Association, oppose the proposal, arguing that it prioritizes miners over nature. Environmental organizations say that the proposal facilitates the opening of important natural areas, including not only olive groves but also forests, protected areas, wetlands and wildlife development areas, to mining.
According to the 11th article of the proposal, olive groves are opened to mining activities. In areas where mining will be carried out, olive trees will be moved to another area in the same province or district. In addition, EIA permit processes are limited to 4 months.
The fact that the law includes the phrase "Increasing legal predictability in the EIA process" leads to comments such as "Citizens will be forced to follow which mines are not permitted during the EIA process, rather than which ones are not responded to."
Citizens who protested the proposal in front of the Turkish Grand National Assembly last week said, “We came from the soil, we will return to the soil, we will not be buried in a mine.” If the proposal is accepted in the General Assembly, it will be submitted to President Tayyip Erdoğan for approval.
The environmental disaster that the transportation of olive groves can cause was seen in Aydın’s Çine district. Speaking to Evrensel Newspaper, Ahmet Uslu from the Çine Life Platform said that 80 percent of the 150 olive trees that were transported in 2023 had dried out. Reminding that the olive trees were at least 50-60 years old, Uslu said, “We want this area where the olive groves were transported and dried to be turned into an Olive Massacre Museum.”
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