A third of forestland in Black Sea province of Ordu to be allotted to mining activities

An additional 11,000 hectares will be put to tender for mining licenses on Sept. 17 in Turkey's Black Sea province of Ordu. “It is impossible to accept this environmental slaughter,” said main opposition CHP Ordu deputy Seyit Torun, who said that gold was being mined in the district of Fatsa using cyanide.

Sunday September 13 2020 01:41 pm

Duvar English

A third of the forestland in Turkey's Black Sea province of Ordu is slated to be allotted for mining activities.

According to main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Ordu deputy Seyit Torun, a quarter of the province's forestland was already being used for mining activities, and an additional 11,000 hectares will be put to tender for mining licenses on Sept. 17.

“It is impossible to accept this environmental slaughter and this practice that will mortgage off our future,” said Torun, who said that gold was being mined in the district of Fatsa using cyanide.

“The environmental pollution has become evident due to the tests carried out on 32 soil samples and 11 water samples in the vicinity of the mines. Based on them, the level of toxic metals in the soil and streams are several times above the average,” Torun said.

Environmentalists have made the headlines in recent years for fighting against harmful mining projects in Turkey, and the Kaz Mountains in the province of Çanakkale served as the location of a year-long struggle against a major mining initiative that critics say has already caused massive deforestation and will irreparably harm the region.

“The government disregards the lives of our people for financial gain. While those close to the government were lining their pockets, the people of the region only experienced suffering. The people of Ordu will not allow this to happen,” Torun said.