Several forest lands in İzmir's coastal areas zoned for construction

Turkey's Environment and Urbanization Ministry has redesignated the status of several coastal areas in the Agean province of İzmir's Seferihisar, Çeşme, Urla and Karaburun districts, zoning them for construction. The İzmir branch of the Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) said that the government's plan will increase the population in the aforementioned districts to the extent that “the area will no longer be liveable.”

Duvar English

Several forest lands in Agean province İzmir's coastal areas have been zoned for construction, according to a report published by daily Birgün on Dec. 25.

The Environment and Urbanization Ministry announced that the relevant areas are located in the districts of Seferihisar, Çeşme, Urla and Karaburun.

Accordingly, a forest area covering 46 hectares in Seferihisar has been opened to construction for the purposes of “tourism,” said the ministry's zoning plan.

In Çeşme, the area behind Aya Yorgi Bay, which was registered as “Regional Park and Large City Green Space,” has been opened to construction. The status of another area covering 52 hectares of green land in Çeşme's Ovacık neighborhood has been changed to “urban improvement.”

The İzmir branch of the Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) said in a report that the government's plan will increase the population in the aforementioned districts to the extent that “the area will no longer be liveable.”

The report also said that the zoning of these areas for construction poses a great risk to nature, as was documented by several experts.