8,882 stone pines to be cut down for granite quarry

* Photos: Ajans Bakırçay

Click to read the article in Turkish

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report foreseeing the extension of the 14-hectare Göltaş granite quarry in Bergama and Ayvalık to cover and area of 110 hectares has been finalized.

The Provincial Directorate of Environment has publicized the report for a period of 10 days, as required by the related regulations. In the event that this extension is undertaken, Kozak Highland, harboring the stone pines (Pinus pinea) of highest quality in Turkey, will come under threat.

8,882 trees to be cut down

According to the EIA report, the related granite quarry will operate in an area which is currently harboring a forest and quality agricultural fields in the Aşağıcuma Neighborhood in İzmir's Bergama district and the Bağyüzü Neighborhood in Balıkesir's Ayvalık district.

As reported by Ajans Bakırçay, the EIA report has indicated that the highest quality 8,882 stone pines of Anatolia will be cut down. The trees have been growing in the region since the ancient times.

Permission for non-agricultural use

Finalized by the Board of Inspection and Survey, the report has noted that "while the estimated number of trees to be cut down in the nearly 110.28-hectare Project Area is 8,882, all of these trees will not be cut down at once, but trees standing on the annual operation area will be cut."

The EIA report has indicated that "there are vineyards and pine forests in the project area," adding that "an application will be made to the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry and a permission will be obtained so that the area can be used for purposes other than agriculture."

750 meters away from residential areas

The area planned to be used as part of the project is currently registered as an agricultural field in the zoning plans with the scale of 1/100,000. According to the data of the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre, there are agricultural lands and pine forests in the area.

While the quarry will cover an area which is more than 10 times larger than now, the extended area will be only 780 meters away from the Aşağıcuma Neighborhood. The EIA report has also noted that there is a pine processing plant only 90 meters away from the granite quarry.

Kozak Highland

Kozak (Pindasos) is considered to be the crown of Ancient Caicus (Bakırçay) Basin. It is known as the oxygen source of not only the area surrounding Bergama, but also that of Turkey and even the world.

Kozak Highland is also a special ecological basin with 17 villages and a population of nearly 10 thousand people due to its stone pine cultivation areas. It has a unique climate, soil and water structure.

With its ecological richness, it offers a very important living space for people there. Kozak is located in the world's leading and Turkey's only natural stone pine forests, which bring more revenue than mines. (TP/SD)