Mining Expansion Threatens Ecology and Heritage in Western Turkey

• Large-scale open-pit mining in Turkey's Aegean region, particularly in Akbelen and the Latmos mountains, is causing widespread deforestation and economic collapse for local communities.
• New legislation, Law No. 7554, has accelerated mining expansion by facilitating urgent expropriation and permitting mining activities in protected olive groves.
• Local residents report significant health concerns, including lung cancer, and have struggled against industrial encroachment that replaces traditional agricultural livelihoods with extractive industry.

Environmental and Health Impacts

• Intensive water usage for mining operations has diverted streams, leading to flooding and disrupting migratory bird habitats.
• Residents of Akbelen link air and water pollution to nearby coal-fired power plants and mining activities, reporting serious respiratory issues.
• In the Latmos range, the extraction of feldspar creates toxic dust risks for workers and locals while altering the natural landscape.

Protection Efforts via Cultural Heritage

• The Latmos mountains, home to 600-million-year-old rock formations and nearly 200 prehistoric rock paintings, are a focal point for environmental activists.
• Activists use the documentation of these ancient paintings as a legal shield to halt mine expansion; however, current protections fail to shield the broader surrounding context.
• Government policies continue to prioritize mineral extraction and tourism infrastructure, often overriding the preservation status of natural parks.