A total of 113 civil society organizations, including the Association for Protection of Natural Habitats and Combating Soil Erosion (TEMA) and the Chamber of Architects and Engineers (TMMOB), started a movement called the Initiative to Monitor the Nature Law. The initiative says approval of the law that will be voted in Parliament this week would be a “historic mistake.”
Environmentalists were alarmed since the draft was adopted by a commission in Parliament. They say the proposal will cause destruction of Turkey's natural sites and coasts. The proposal cites “maximum common good” for the change.
The controversial proposal has been pending for three years. If it passes, it will be legally possible to issue construction permits for areas such as the Lake Manyas Bird Heaven -- a major avian conservation site -- or Belgrade Forest, İstanbul's largest forest. The Environment Commission, which passed it, says the law seeks to encourage tourism.
Turkey's civil society organizations and the EU have criticized the proposal harshly, but the commission ignored the objections.
source: http://www.todayszaman.com/news-317400-parliament-to-discuss-law-destroying-national-parks.html
