1,500 trees to be cut down in Ayman Highland, villagers protesting

* Photos: Ayman Highland villagers

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Trees have started to be cut down to open a stone quarry in the Ayman Highland in Turkey's western province of Bolu. The excavators went to the forestland in the highland in the morning hours today (September 16) and started cutting down the pine trees in the forest.

In the area where nearly 1,500 trees are planned to be cut down, the trees to be cut have been marked and given a number.

Hearing that the trees will be cut, the villagers went to the forestland and stood up in front of the excavators to stop the cutting of trees.

On August 24, 2021, excavators entered the stone quarry planned to be opened in the Ayman Highland; the villagers stopped the excavators.

On the same day, gendarmerie officers went to the area, moved them away from the scene of the incident and the Deputy Gendarmerie Regiment Commander threatened the villagers with "having their houses demolished."

In the area where hundreds of trees have been cut down, villagers have chanted the slogan, "No to the slaughter of forests." They have also prevented the cutting of trees, carrying a banner of "No to Stone Quarry."

Saying, "We grew up here, we will die here," the villagers have started waiting in the area.

They have filed a lawsuit

In the meantime, the villagers have taken legal action via their attorney, who has applied to court and demanded a stay of execution.

Applying to the Administrative Court against the General Directorate of Forestry, Governor's Office of Bolu, Ministry of Environment and Urbanization and General Directorate of Mining and Petroleum Affairs, the lawyer has demanded that the administrative permits be suspended and the decision of "No Environmental Impact Assessment is necessary" be withdrawn.

What happened?

Excavators entered the Ayman Highland in Bolu on August 24, 2021 for the stone quarry planned to be opened in the region. The villagers stood up in front of the excavators and stopped the works.

Villagers objected to the teams who went to the Ayman Highland in early morning. The teams, along with excavators, were poised to extract the stones to be used for a hydroelectric power plant planned to be constructed in Seben district. Villagers do not want a stone quarry to be opened on the highland in the Karaköse area; it is where they graze their cattle.

The village head and the Board of Village Society reportedly submitted a petition to the Governor's Office to stop the construction of the stone quarry. The villagers also said that they would petition the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Energy.

The Deputy Gendarmerie Regiment Commander also went to the highland and spoke to the villagers, according to reports.

The Deputy Commander reportedly said to the villagers, "If you prevent it, I will have all houses built after 2017 demolished. You are people from the highland, you are picnickers." Following these remarks, most of the villagers left the scene while a few villagers continued resisting.

On August 25, the excavation team started working in the pasture and forestland under the surveillance of the gendarmerie. (FD/SD)