Home > Perspective News > 12punto had brought it to the agenda: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hazal Papuççular reacts to the environmental massacre in Kazdağları

12punto had brought it to the agenda: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hazal Papuççular reacts to the environmental massacre in Kazdağları

The environmental massacre carried out by Cengiz Holding in Kazdağları continues to remain a hot topic. 12punto columnist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hazal Papuççular, who reacted to the mining activities being conducted in the region, evaluated the latest developments in Kazdağları.

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Cengiz Holding, which continues its plundering activities in every corner of Turkey, has this time continued its environmental massacre in Kazdağları. The company, which has cut down many trees in the region, continues its mineral exploration activities.

Citizens who reacted to the environmental massacre in Kazdağları, which 12punto brought to the agenda in recent days, had protested against Cengiz Holding.

A citizen who participated in the Kazdağları protest said, “We don't want it. We planted the pines with our own hands. I planted them with my own hands. Isn't it a shame? We came and stopped them yesterday, they have come again today.”

Another local resident, 72-year-old Mülkiye Yılmaz, reacted to the environmental massacre by saying, “I am here because Kazdağları is being plundered. We do not want it to be handed over to this and that. Such plunder has not been seen anywhere else. Did their fathers plant these trees? They are cutting them down irresponsibly.”

Here are the highlights from the protests in Kazdağları:

Regarding the Kazdağları massacre that 12punto brought to the agenda, 12punto columnist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hazal Papuççular wrote a striking article.

'76 PERCENT OF THE REGION HAS BEEN LICENSED TO MINING COMPANIES'

Drawing attention to the historical importance of Kazdağları, Papuççular touched upon the environmental destruction recently experienced in the region. Providing information about the report published by the TEMA Foundation in April 2020, Papuççular underlined that the region is under a serious threat and noted the following:

''The report published by the TEMA Foundation in April 2020 defines the Kazdağları region as an area of 1,697,062 hectares covering the Biga Peninsula and the North Aegean. 76 percent of this area has been licensed to mining companies within the scope of various activities. This rate shows us that the entire region and ecosystem are in great danger. Because, in the region that is currently on the agenda with trees being cut down for a mining project, we all remember the kind of destruction the Canadian mining company Alamos caused to extract gold.''

THE CYANIDE AND TREE ISSUE

She also made evaluations regarding the cyanide issue that came to the agenda regarding the Canadian company that operated in Kazdağları in the past. It was stated that with the increase in discussions at that time, the Ministry denied the cyanide allegations.

However, stating that the issue is the number of trees cut down in the region along with cyanide, Papuççular continued her article as follows:

''When you look at the news from 2018-2019, when the Canadian company was heavily discussed, you often see statements made to quell reactions. For example, the cyanide issue... With the increase in discussions at that time, the relevant ministry first stated that cyanide was not used in the field. However, later the company said that cyanide would only be used in the final stage and added that this would definitely not harm the environment. The issue is not just cyanide. The number of trees cut down in the region also became a subject of debate; the felling, which TEMA calculated to be close to 200 thousand, was announced by the authorities as around 13 thousand. The company, trying to reduce the reactions, announced that it had paid money to the Ministry of Forestry for reforestation efforts. The company CEO stated in an interview with the press, “within six and a half years, replanting will be done in this area. Within 10 years, a little more will be done and it will look like a forest again”. More than 5 years have passed since these statements, we will all see what the region will look like exactly a few years later.

However, there is something else that needs to be said: In 2021, the Canadian company's licenses were cancelled. Activists wanted the company to pay for the destruction caused. However, the company, which said it suffered losses due to the cancelled permits, had other plans. Alamos, which had to withdraw from the region in 2021, announced on its own website that it would sue Turkey. At that time, there was no positive response to the calls from civil society to start recreation. Honestly, I haven't come across any information about what happened afterwards... But I don't think we would be wrong to say that nature was left destroyed.''

WE ARE FACING THE DEVASTATION OF AN ECOSYSTEM

Today, the environmental massacre by Cengiz Holding in Kazdağları is on the agenda. The start of tree felling in Bayramiç within the scope of Cengiz Holding's Halil Ağa Gold and Copper Mine Project drew the reaction of both the local people and environmental non-governmental organizations. Citizens in the region united against the project that will create a risk of ecological destruction in Kazdağları.

12punto columnist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hazal Papuççular warned that a total of 1 million trees could be cut down with the new project and stated that one must fight against this ecocide, concluding her article as follows:

''We are facing the danger of an ecosystem being devastated. Of course, it doesn't stop there. Part of the project site also appears as a 1st-degree archaeological site. In other words, our cultural heritage is at stake as much as our natural heritage. In recent days, both the local people and civil society representatives have been struggling to stop the work that has started in Bayramiç. This is a very justified struggle, not only for the local people but also against a possible ecocide and at the same time for future generations...''