Busy agenda for the new week: All eyes in the Turkish Parliament on the national parks bill and the reconciliation commission report

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) begins this week with a packed agenda. Attention is focused on two fronts: the General Assembly's deliberations on a legislative proposal that envisions changes to the protection status of national parks, and the ongoing contacts aimed at drafting the joint report of the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission, which was established for the second reconciliation process.

Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş held individual meetings last week with the deputy group chairs of parties that have parliamentary groups—the AK Party, CHP, DEM Party, MHP, and Yeni Yol—to ensure the commission's draft report is evaluated by the parties. In this context, he is also expected to meet this week with representatives of Yeniden Refah, DSP, EMEP, TİP, and HÜDA PAR, who participated in the commission but do not have groups in Parliament. Following these meetings, plans are in place to finalize the joint report and reconvene the commission.

In the TBMM General Assembly, the legislative proposal that has already passed through the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Affairs and contains significant regulations regarding national parks is expected to be brought to the agenda. This regulation proposes changes across many areas, from management and infrastructure projects to the role of the private sector and criminal sanctions in national parks, nature parks, and protected natural areas.

DETAILS OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL

Under the proposal, the management of national parks and similar protected areas will be carried out by the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks in line with long-term development plans. These plans, prepared by taking the opinions of relevant ministries, aim to establish a balance between the protection and development of these areas.

Accordingly, the establishment of tourist facilities and structures within protected areas may be permitted, provided that a specific public interest is observed and approval is obtained from the relevant ministries. These permits may be granted to private or legal entities for a maximum of 49 years; however, the rights of successful enterprises may be extended up to 99 years based on the current market value.

While the bill provides for special permits for infrastructure projects (such as transportation, electricity, water, natural gas, and communication) and certain service facilities deemed to be in the public interest, it states that the planning requirement will not be sought for urgent and indispensable drinking water investments. Furthermore, it stipulates severe prison sentences and judicial fines for those who disrupt the natural balance in national parks or use protected areas for residential purposes.

National park visitor fees will be determined by the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, and if entry without payment is detected, penalties will be applied in accordance with the legislation.

With the introduction of this bill to the parliamentary agenda, allegations such as "the way will be paved for tourist facilities and hotels in protected areas" and "the status of national parks will be weakened" have been raised by the public and professional organizations. In a report prepared by the Istanbul Bar Association's Environment, Urban, and Zoning Law Commission, the following criticism was included: "The language used in the proposal aims more at taking nature areas under control and opening them up to tourism and economic gain than at truly protecting nature. Permit processes for protected areas are being reorganized in favor of private individuals and companies. The Legislative Proposal envisions changes to the Land Hunting Law No. 4915 that weaken the protection of wildlife. The proposal envisions the transfer of comprehensive duties, inspections, and authorities regulated under the Environmental Law No. 2872, the National Parks Law No. 2873, and the Land Hunting Law No. 4915 from the ministries to the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks. If the proposal is enacted, along with the increasing destruction of our agricultural lands, coasts, forests, and streams, the destruction in national parks, nature parks, nature monuments, nature conservation areas, and wildlife protection zones, which possess national and international value, will accelerate, and the related oversight will weaken."

In response to these criticisms, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry emphasized that the legislative proposal aims for the sustainable management of protected areas, the protection of wildlife and biodiversity, and the increase of existing penalties in the fight against illegal activities. Ministry officials stated that allegations that hotels and concrete construction would be permitted under the regulations, which were prepared in compliance with international conventions, do not reflect the truth: "Given such a situation, the expressed allegations, especially those claiming that the way will be paved for building hotels inside national parks and that protected areas will be turned into concrete through plunder and construction, do not reflect the truth."

BUSY AGENDA IN COMMITTEES

It is not just the national parks regulation that is prominent in Parliament. This week, meetings of the Committee on Equality of Opportunity for Women and Men, as well as the Research Commission on Children Dragged into Crime, will be held. Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu is scheduled to provide a briefing in Parliament on Wednesday. The Petition Commission meeting, which was postponed due to a fight last week, will also be held this week.

On the other hand, the group meetings of political parties are on the parliamentary calendar for Tuesday and Wednesday.

All these topics in Parliament are being followed with curiosity by the public, both in terms of environmental protection and democratic processes.

News Source: 12punto